Commander Mike Saum reported from OPNAV N80, Director of Navy Programming, where he served as the Shore Readiness Analyst in the "Bull Pen." He was responsible for providing analysis and recommendations of the $9.5 Billion shore program, as part of the larger Navy program, to the Chief of Naval Operations.

Commander Saum is a native of Pawling, New York. Commissioned in 1992 through the Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, he is an alumnus of Union College, in Schenectady, New York (’92 BSCE) and University of California, Berkeley (’01 M. Eng. CE)

Ensign Saum reported aboard Naval Mobile Construction Battalion FORTY in 1993, where he served as the Engineering Officer, Embark Officer and held numerous collateral duties.

After leaving Fighting Forty in February of 1995, LTJG Saum reported to Construction Battalion Unit 427 on board Naval Station San Diego, where he served as the "Plank Owner" Officer in Charge.

After 6 months at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA, Lieutenant Saum reported to Engineering Field Activity, Mediterranean Contracts Office, Sigonella, Sicily onboard the Naval Air Station there as an Assistant Resident Officer in Charge of Construction. His specific duties were as the Director of Lease-Construct Housing. Following assignments at Graduate School and Dive School, he reported to Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, San Diego where he served as the Diving and Littoral Operations Branch Head and was the Mission Planning Integrated Product Team Leader for the installation of undersea surveillance systems.

Lieutenant Commander Saum’s next assignment was as Commanding Officer of Underwater Construction Team ONE (UCT 1) on board NAB Little Creek. While in command, UCT ONE deployed multiple times in support of OIF and OEF, recovery efforts from Hurricane’s Ivan and Katrina and EUCOM’s Theater Security Cooperation efforts in Eastern Europe. Following UCT 1, he reported to Naval Facilities Engineering Command Mid Atlantic’s Public Works Department, Norfolk where he served as the Facilities Engineering and Acquisition Division (FEAD) Director.

Commander Saum is a Seabee Combat Warfare Officer, a member of the Acquisition Professional Community, a registered Professional Engineer in California and Oregon and a Basic Diving Officer. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (2 gold star) and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2 gold stars).