CDR Michael Aaron Stoker
Commanding Officer |
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A native of Hudson, Ohio, CDR Stoker graduated with distinction from the United States Naval Academy in 2000, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics and served as President of the Annapolis Chapter of Omicron Delta Epsilon, the International Society of Economics. He holds a Masters Degree in security studies from the U.S. Naval War College and is a graduate of the Maritime Advanced Warfighting School, holding the accreditation of a Joint Operational Planner.
CDR Stoker’s experiences at sea include operations in the THIRD, FOURTH, FIFTH, and SEVENTH Fleets. His first sea assignments occurred on USS RUSSELL (DDG 59) in Pearl Harbor, HI from 2001-2004, where he served as Ordnance Officer, Auxiliary Officer, and Navigator. Highlights from his division officer assignments include leading boarding operations in the Northern Arabian Gulf as a Visit Board Search and Seizure Officer and recognition by the Honolulu Chapter of the U.S Navy League for leadership excellence. His next sea assignment was Chief Engineer on USS REUBEN JAMES (FFG 57) in Pearl Harbor, HI from 2008-2009.
CDR Stoker was selected as Tactician of the Year for Destroyer Squadron THIRTY-ONE during his time on board and received a Letter of Commendation from Commander, Naval Surface Forces for this achievement. CDR Stoker’s following sea assignment was Chief Engineer on USS BUNKER HILL (CG 52) in San Diego, CA, which included multiple deployments with the CARL VINSON Strike Group. While assigned to BUNKER HILL, CDR Stoker was appointed mission commander of a Humanitarian Assistance / Disaster Relief team on the Haitian island La Gonave, providing the first relief of its kind to the island after the catastrophic 2010 earthquake occurred. Ashore, he served as Special Assistant to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Commander, NATO Allied Joint Force Command Naples, Italy from 2004-2007.
CDR Stoker returned to Naples to serve as Flag Secretary to Commander, U.S. SIXTH Fleet and Commander, Striking and Support Forces NATO from 2012-2013. In his following shore assignment, he served as an Operational Planner in the N53 Future Plans Directorate on the U.S. Naval Forces Europe / U.S. Naval Forces Africa / U.S. SIXTH Fleet staff. In this capacity, he formulated various plans to support crisis and contingency operations in the U.S. European and African Command Areas of Responsibility and developed maritime support concepts to NATO at a critical inflection point in Alliance history. CDR Stoker’s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (fourth award), Navy Achievement Medal, and various unit and campaign awards and citations.