Commander Michael S. Fowler, a Georgia native graduated High School in 1980. He enlisted in the United States Navy Delayed Entry Program (DEP) and left home for boot camp in San Diego, California in April 1981. Upon completing boot camp and Seaman Apprenticeship Training, SR Fowler reported to Naval Support Facility, Diego Garcia, a British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) called the "FOOTPRINT OF FREEDOM" in October 1981 and was assigned to the Administrative Department where he worked in the communications division as an AUTOVON OPERATOR.
After an 18 month tour on Diego Garcia, SN Fowler then reported to Millington, Tennessee in April 1983 to attend Jobs Oriented Basic Skills (JOBS), a student preparation course designed to build student skills in the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic in preparation for a follow-on "A" School.
SN Fowler graduated from JOBS in July 1983 and reported to Operations Specialist "A" School in Dam Neck, Virginia. Upon graduating from OS A-School, he then reported to his first ship, the USS SCHENECTADY (LST-1185), home ported in San Diego. During his tour from October 1983 to August 1987, he achieved the rank of Second Class Petty Officer, earned his ESWS qualification and made deployments to the Western Pacific and Middle East. OS2(SW) Fowler next reported to Naval Amphibious School, Little Creek, Virginia as an Instructor in the Leadership, Management, Education and Training(LMET) course designed to teach the principals of effective leadership to fleet Leading Petting Officers. He taught LMET from 1987 - 1990, teaching first in the basic LPO course and was selected to teach in the LMET Instructor Course. He also attained the rank of First Class Petty Officer and earned his qualification as Master Training Specialist (MTS).
OS1 (SW) Fowler reported on board USS PENSACOLA (LSD-38), home ported in Little Creek, VA, in October 1990 while she was on deployment supporting Operation Desert Storm. He assumed duties as Leading Petty Officer and was selected as USS PENSACOLA and COMPHIBRON 10 Sailor of the Year for 1991. He was selected to the rank of Chief Petty Officer in 1992. OSC (SW) Fowler sailed on the USS PENSACOLA for three more years making deployments to the North Atlantic and Middle East. He applied to the Limited Duty Officer (LDO) Program and was selected as a Surface Operations LDO in 1994. OSC (SW) Fowler was commissioned to the rank of Ensign in March 1995.
ENS Fowler next reported on board USS NASSAU (LHA-4) as Combat Information Center Officer (CICO) and OI Division Officer. He sailed the NASSAU from 1995 to 1998 completing two deployments to the Middle East in support of Operation IRAQ Freedom. ENS Fowler earned his Officer of the Deck(OOD) Underway and Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) Qualification while on board. He also attained the rank of LTJG. In May 1998, LTJG Fowler reported to shore duty at Afloat Training Group Atlantic (ATG) where he served from 1998 to 2001. He was assigned as Department Head for the Air Warfare Department while primary performing duties as a Training Liaison Officer (TLO) for FFGs and DDGs and Assistant TLO for all Aircraft Carriers home ported in Norfolk. He attained the rank of LT while at ATG.
In May 2001, after completing the AEGIS Combat System Officers COI and Air Defense Course training pipeline, LT Fowler left Norfolk for Hawaii to serve as Assistant Operations Officer in USS HOPPER (DDG-70). He earned qualification as Air Defense Officer (ADO) and Tactical Action Officer (TAO) and completed two deployments to the Middle East. He was also a principal player in standing up NOBLE EAGER AIR DEFENSE posture in the Hawaiian OPAREA in response to the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers. LT Fowler was selected to the rank of LCDR while on board HOPPER.
LT Fowler next returned back to shore duty and reported to Surface Warfare Development Group (SWDG), Little Creek, Virginia where he was assigned as NATO SEA SPARROW AND RAM TACTICS Officer from 2005 to 2007. He was promoted to the rank of LCDR in JUNE 2005 shortly after reporting on board. While at SWDG, LCDR Fowler was at the forefront of developing tactics for the newly acquired Rolling Airframe Missile(RAM) and more sophisticated Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile(ESSM) designed for deployment in Amphibs, DDG's, and CVN's.
LCDR Fowler next reported back to sea duty as Assistant Operations Officer in USS IWO JIMA (LHD-7) from 2007 to 2009. LCDR Fowler was fortunate to assume duties as the ships Operations Officer one year after reporting on board. He took the ship through the Inter-Deployment Training Cycle (IDTC) and subsequent deployment to the Middle East. During this deployment, IWO JIMA ARG supported Operations IRAQ Freedom, AFGHAN Operations, and Piracy Operations in the Horn of Africa.
LCDR Fowler returned back ashore and reported to Naval Network Warfare Command (NNWC) and was assigned to the Space Directorate from 2009 TO 2011. He was responsible for supervising the Space Watch Floor in support of providing Space Effects Packages (SEP) to deployed Carrier Strike Groups and Amphibious Ready Groups. While at NNWC LCDR Fowler was selected and promoted to the rank of Commander in June 2011. He reported to Commander, Undersea Surveillance (CUS) as N3 Director in July 2011 and took over as Chief Staff Officer in April 2012.
Commander Fowler is authorized to wear the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (five awards), as well as various unit awards.BR>
*Biography modified to protect member privacy and protect family members.