LCDR Michael Stokes
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Posted: 9 May 2009, 11 PM

LCDR Michael Stokes was born in Canton, Ohio and grew up in Sarasota, Florida where his parents and brother still reside.

Graduating in December 1998 from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, he joined the Navy in January 1999 through Officer Candidate School. He earned his wings of gold in August 2001 and completed F/A-18 flight training in June 2002.

Following his initial training, he was assigned to VFA-94 in Lemoore, CA. During his time in the squadron he was the Aircraft Division Officer, Assistant Operations Officer, and Air-to-Ground Weapons Officer. While attached to VFA-94, he deployed on the USS NIMITZ in March 2003, flying 31 missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In 2005, LCDR Stokes was selected for United States Navy Test Pilot School. Upon completion, he was assigned to VX-31 in China Lake, CA. During his tenure, he was the project officer for many programs including Software Configuration Sets (SCS) 20X and 21X, AESA radar, and numerous other smaller projects.

He married the former Megan Sula of Lemoore, CA in May 2006.

In March 2008, he was sent on an Individual Augmentation (IA) to Baghdad, Iraq to again support the Global War on Terrorism, this time on the ground with the Army. Attached to the Counter-IED Integration Center (COIC), he worked on suppressing the enemy through analysis of IED threats.

LCDR Stokes will be heading to US Navy War College in Newport, Rhode Island in July 2009.