Captain Michael Fisher — a highly decorated officer in the U.S. Navy — has been named commanding officer of Virginia Tech’s Naval ROTC.

When Capt. Fisher was a young boy, he dreamed of one day commanding a submarine, despite growing up more than a hundred miles from the nearest ocean. So it was with great enthusiasm that he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear mechanical operator. Following selection for the Nuclear Enlisted Commissioning program, he graduated from the University of New Mexico with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and received his commission.

After initial training, Capt. Fisher reported aboard the U.S.S. Los Angeles, where he qualified in submarines. Subsequent sea tours included U.S.S. Charlotte as navigator and operations officer and U.S.S. Alaska as executive officer. Finally, his boyhood dream came true when he undertook a command tour onboard U.S.S. Nebraska, resulting in two Battle Efficiency “E” awards. He has since conducted three Western Pacific deployments and six strategic deterrent patrols.

Capt. Fisher completed Joint Professional Military Education Phases I and II through the Air Force’s Air University and the Joint Forces Staff College and holds a master’s in business administration from Chaminade University. He is also a graduate of the UK Submarine Command Course (PERISHER).

His land tours have included Hawaii and, most recently, four years in Bahrain.

In addition to a range of unit and campaign level awards, Capt. Fisher’s personal honors include two awards of the Legion of Merit, a Defense Meritorious Service Medal, a Meritorious Service Medal, four Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, and four Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.