Michael Wettlaufer
Michael Wettlaufer | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait, 2019 | |
| Born | 1960 (age 63–64) Alexandria, Virginia |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1986–2023 |
| Rank | Rear Admiral |
| Commands | Military Sealift Command Carrier Strike Group 3 USS John C. Stennis USS Denver VFA-195 |
Michael Andrew Wettlaufer (born 1960)[1] is a retired United States Navy rear admiral who commanded the Military Sealift Command from June 28, 2019 to September 8, 2023. He was previously the Commander of Carrier Strike Group 3.
Early life and education
Wettlaufer was born in Alexandria, Virginia. He graduated as a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from Colorado State University.[2]
He received his commission in 1986 and became a naval aviator in 1988. He further received a Master of Science in Aviation Systems from the University of Tennessee and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. He graduated as a navy test pilot and completed Navy Nuclear Power Training in 2008.[2]
Naval career
Wettlaufer was, in his time as a naval aviator, assigned to Attack Squadron 42 and Strike Fighter Squadron 106. He later became an aircraft carrier scheduler for the Commander of the 2nd Fleet, served as a project officer, test pilot and landing signal officer with the Strike Aircraft Test Directorate at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland.[2]
He later served as a fixed-wing tutor and experimental test pilot at the Empire Test Pilots’ School for the Royal Navy. Following this, he became a Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group associate fellow and served as an analyst within the Office of the Secretary of Defense under the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO Policy.[2]
His first role as a Flag Officer was as US European Command Deputy for Policy, Plans, Strategy, Capabilities and Resources. He took several commands in his carrier, including the USS John C Stennis, USS Denver, VFA-195[2] and Carrier Strike Group 3 (CSG-3) during its 2018–19 world tour.[2][3] He was succeeded as commander of CSG-3 by rear admiral Fred I. Pyle on June 11, 2019.[3]
On June 28, 2019, Wettlaufer succeeded Dee Mewbourne as Commander of the Military Sealift Command, an organisation responsible for the replenishment and military transport ships of the United States Navy.[4][5] He was succeeded by Philip E. Sobeck on September 8, 2023.[5][6][7]
References
- ^ Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy on Active Duty. Bureau of Naval Personnel. October 1, 1990. p. 180. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f "Military Sealift Command Change of Command Ceremony 2019". www.maritimetv.com.
- ^ a b "Carrier Strike Group 3 Holds Change of Command". DVIDS. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
- ^ "Rear Admiral Michael Wettlaufer". United States Navy. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
- ^ a b "United States Navy Flag Officers October 2021" (PDF). My Navy HR Flag Management & Detailing. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ^ Bennet, Jamie (September 12, 2023). "Navy Hosts Ceremony Seating Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck as Military Sealift Commander". Retrieved June 18, 2024.
- ^ "Rear Admiral Philip E. Sobeck". United States Navy. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
External links
Media related to Michael A. Wettlaufer at Wikimedia Commons
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Government.
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