Michael Damien Simmons
Virginia Beach
Summary
Dynamic Senior Chief Petty Officer with extensive experience in maritime operations and tactical planning at Naval Special Warfare Group Four. Proven leader in program management and operational coordination, enhancing mission execution and readiness. Expert in developing personnel through leadership training, fostering resilience and ethical decision-making in high-stakes environments.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Maritime Planner, Senior Chief Petty Officer (SBCS/E8/O52T)
Naval Special Warfare Group Four (NSWG-4)
Virginia Beach
03.2023 - Current
- Led Maritime Planning for Trident Exercises, Personnel Recovery (PR) Program Management, Leadership Development Course (LDC) and Force Development Course (FDC) across 3 echelon IV commands. Leadership greatly enhanced the readiness and lethality of combatant craft operators supporting multiple Geographic Combatant Commanders (GCCs).
- Provided oversight for the Maritime Planning of three Special Boat Teams Combatant Craft in Trident Exercises, the culminating training evolutions for deploying SEAL Teams. Led long-term coordination and maritime planning between multiple Special Boat Detachments (SBDs), Naval Special Warfare Groups TWO and EIGHT planners, and rotary/fixed wing air assets during 5 bi-annual TRIDENT Exercises.
- Program Manager of all PR training and Survival Evade Resistance and Escape (SERE) courses for deploying SBDs under the Naval Special Warfare Group FOUR clemency.
- Scheduled, organized 3 LDCs for 6 SWCC Team Chiefs and 12 Boat Crew Leaders (BCLs) from all 3 Special Boat Teams. Conducted 50 hours of instruction grooming Senior SWCCs for strategic leadership roles, providing clearly defined leadership expectations within NSW Community throughout their 24 month Inter-deployment Training Cycle (IDTC) to support GCCs maritime operations abroad.
- Planned, organized, and conducted the courses of instruction while mentoring 59 junior SWCCs during two NSWG4 FDCs. Led 60 hours of instruction focused on ethical and resiliency skills for upcoming SWCCs to stay aligned with the NSW ethos.
- Supervisor: SBCM John W. Overley / 757-763-4003 / john.overley@socom.mil
Maritime Planner | Senior Chief Petty Officer (SBCS/E8/O52T)
Naval Special Warfare Group TWO (NSWG-2)
Virginia Beach
04.2020 - 03.2023
- Responsible for daily coordination of all deployed NSW Maritime operations, exercises, and training to NSWG-2.
- Provided senior enlisted advice for SOF operations to an O-5 led task group while forward deployed in support of a Theater Special Operations Command (TSOC) annual NATO exercise, enabling the Echelon III elements to meet core training requirements.
- Provided maritime surface mobility subject matter expertise to mission planning efforts during 2 sensitive maritime tactical operations in the European theater, enabling the Commander to provide guidance to deployed forces.
- Senior Enlisted Advisor of NSWG-2 Mission Management Cell's mission planning and operational battle tracking of SOCEUR forward deployed Combatant Craft Mediums (CCMs). Synchronized the relocation of SOCAF's Combatant Craft Assaults (CCAs) onboard a Martime Support Vessel, enabling support to Theater Special Operations priorities.
- Coordinated the efforts for six Combatant Craft and 38 personnel in support of three Areas of Operation, ensuring deployed maritime operators, craft, and equipment were fully mission capable to support three GCC's maritime initiatives.
- Supervisor: CWO4 Joseph Weinman / 757-647-8659 / joseph.weinman@socom.mil
Troop Chief | Senior Chief Petty Officer (SBCS/E8/O52T)
Special Boat Team 20
Virginia Beach
09.2017 - 04.2020
- Led elite maritime force of Special Warfare boat operators supporting special operations globally extending the capabilities of joint force/inter-agency operators to reach, gain, and maintain access in various austere and irregular environments: Coastal Troop Chief.
- Led 35 personnel during the planning and execution of integration training requirements consisting of 6 Full Mission Profiles that incorporated CCAs and NSW Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats into SEAL Troops. These efforts maximized the readiness of 3 SBDs executing operational requirements in AFRICOM and CENTCOM AORs. Streamlined staffing of 17 CONOPs/Requests for Support through 2 TSOCs, providing maritime tasking for deployed NSW craft with 6 NATO and African Partner Forces.
- Oversaw readiness of 6 NSW Combatant Craft, ancillary equipment in Greece valued at $16.5M. Coordinated with SOCAF, SOCEUR, and NSWG4 to establish lines of accounting for new, mission critical facilities for CCAs. Resolved a previously unforeseen capacity issue to enable cross-COCOM functionality of NSW Combatant Craft in support of theater OPLAN and CONPLAN requirements.
- Provided career guidance and mentorship to 3 SWCC Chiefs throughout the IDTC that resulted in the selection of both SBT20's Junior and Senior Sailor's of the Year, 3 Sailor's of the Quarter, and a Meritorious Advancement Program promotion. These efforts dramatically enhanced the operational readiness and career progression of SWCCs at SBT20.
- Assisted in the reporting and tracking of 40 deployed personnel and combat readiness of six CCAs. Played an integral role in the task organization of 158 SWCC operators to efficiently man and train SBDs in preparation for deployment requirements.
- Supervisor: SBCM Daniel Snyder (Retired) / 757-818-5875
Non-Standard Maritime (NSM) Troop Chief | Chief Petty Officer (SBC/E7/O52T)
Special Boat Team 20
Virginia Beach
03.2016 - 09.2017
- Led elite maritime force of Special Warfare boat operators supporting special operations globally extending the capabilities of joint force/inter-agency operators to reach, gain, and maintain access in various austere and irregular environments: Non-Standard Maritime (NSM) Troop Chief.
- Drove curriculum reviews and innovative tactical updates that paved the way for NSM success during national theater level missions. Developed a deployment architecture that delivered force-multiplying flexibility to commanders and positively shaped the operating environment in line with NSWG-4's #2 priority mission.
- Orchestrated the deployment and redeployment of 19 personnel and associated equipment in support of a strategic EUCOM operation. As the NSM Senior Enlisted Advisor, provided time-sensitive, critical guidance to the Maritime Task Group Commander during 1300NM of transit in the Baltic Sea. These efforts guided nine NSM operations and drove mission success, while enhancing critical relations with NATO allies.
- Worked closely with Command leadership on NSM manning, advancement and milestones. Screened candidates for NSM and Achilles Dagger Programs, refined the NSM Patrol Officer boarding process, and prepared operators to conduct sensitive operations in contested operational environments. Focused efforts to resolve significant NSM manning shortfalls and establish key NSM milestones at SBT-20.
- Led a condensed IDTC culminating in a seven day readiness assessment, ensuring critical capabilities were ready for NSM global deployment. This curriculum ensured the NSM detachment's success during operations navigating 1163NM throughout littoral waterways, while preparing for a national level requirement.
- Supervisor: SBCM Daniel Snyder (Retired) / 757-818-5875
Education
Qualified as SWCC Master -
01.2023
Bachelors Degree - Organizational Management
Ashford University
01.2017
Achilles Dagger/Advanced Special Operations Level 2 -
Skills
- Maritime operations
- Tactical planning
- Program management
- Leadership development
- Operational coordination
- Mission execution
Security Clearance
Active Top Secret Security Clearance, TS/SCI
Additional Information
Germany, Lithuania, Greece, Nigeria, Kenya, Cameroon, Philippines, Oman, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, US State Department, US Embassies, Foreign Partner Force leadership, Other Government Agencies
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Maritime Planner, Senior Chief Petty Officer (SBCS/E8/O52T)
Naval Special Warfare Group Four (NSWG-4)
03.2023 - Current
Maritime Planner | Senior Chief Petty Officer (SBCS/E8/O52T)
Naval Special Warfare Group TWO (NSWG-2)
04.2020 - 03.2023
Troop Chief | Senior Chief Petty Officer (SBCS/E8/O52T)
Special Boat Team 20
09.2017 - 04.2020
Non-Standard Maritime (NSM) Troop Chief | Chief Petty Officer (SBC/E7/O52T)
Special Boat Team 20
03.2016 - 09.2017
Qualified as SWCC Master -
Bachelors Degree - Organizational Management
Ashford University