Rear Adm. Mike Steffen is a native of Bedford, Virginia, and a 1992 graduate of Virginia Tech. He was commissioned through Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets in conjunction with the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program and designated a Naval Aviator in 1994. He also holds a Master of Science in Global Business Leadership from the University of San Diego.
His sea duty tours include serving with Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS-4) “Black Knights”, deploying twice with Carrier Air Wing 14 (CVW 14) aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), along with four combat deployments conducting special operations in Iraq with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 4 (HCS-4) “Redwolves” and HCS-5 “Firehawks” in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Steffen’s shore tours included the east coast HS Wing Weapons School as an instructor pilot and the FLIR/Hellfire weapons system subject matter expert, as well as serving on the staffs of Helicopter Wing Reserve, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, and Naval Air Forces Reserve.
His command tours include the Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light 60 (HSL-60) “Jaguars” in Jacksonville, Florida, the Maritime Support Wing, based in Coronado, California, and Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas.
He has flown over 125 combat missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and accumulated nearly 3,000 hours of flight time with over 1,000 hours of night vision goggle time.
Steffen assumed duties as the 92nd commandant, Naval District Washington June 22, 2021.
Steffen’s personal awards include the Legion of Merit (three awards), Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Air Medal Single Action with Combat “V” (two awards), Air Medal Strike/Flight (eight awards), along with other numerous campaign and unit awards.
Last Updated: 3 June 2022