COMMANDER MICHAEL VAAS

CHIEF OF STAFF, NAVY REGION KOREA

COMMANDER MICHAEL VAAS

Commander Michael Vaas was raised in Watertown, NY. After receiving his commission from the United States Naval Academy in 1997, he was designated a surface warfare officer in 1999.
His first sea tour was aboard USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) as Second Division Officer. His follow-on assignment was as Auxiliaries Officer on USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3) where he participated in the hull swap with USS Essex (LHD 2). Upon completion of Department Head School, he served as Operations Officer aboard USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) again which hull swapped with USS Tortuga (LSD 46). He then assumed duties as Operations Officer aboard USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), supporting Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet. His final afloat tour was as the Damage Control Assistant for USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) after completing a third hull swap with USS Essex (LHD 2).
Shore assignments include duty at the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, where he served as the 18^th Company Officer on the staff of the Commandant of Midshipman. He served in a Global Support Assignment billet as Detainee Operations Officer for the Joint Detention Group, Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He also completed instructor duty as the Expeditionary Warfare cell lead for the Maritime Warfighting and Department Head Training Directorate at Surface Warfare Officers School, Newport, RI. After being designated as a Shore Installation Management Specialty Career Path Officer, he served as Chief Staff Officer for Commander, Fleet Activities Chinhae, South Korea, and as Officer-in-Charge at Naval Support Activity Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Navy Yard Annex, Philadelphia, PA. In his most recent assignment, he served as Commander, Fleet Activities Chinhae, the only U.S. Navy base on mainland Asia.

Commander Vaas holds master’s degrees in Leadership and Human Resource Development from the Naval Postgraduate School and in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (3 awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (5 awards), Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2 awards), and various campaign awards.

Last Updated: 15 July 2024

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