Commander Michael Service is a native of Guthrie, Ky. He was commissioned an Ensign in the Navy Nurse Corps in June 1993 and began his career at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego where he initially served as a staff nurse on the inpatient multi-surgical ward and then as specialty nurse providing intravenous conscious sedation in the surgical specialty clinics.

After his initial tour, he was assigned to the Naval Hospital in Millington, Tenn., where he served as Head of Beneficiary Access and Health Promotion Officer for the Mid-South area of operations. In 1999, he was selected for Duty Under Instruction and attended the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, earning a Master of Science degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner. His follow-on tour at the Naval Hospital in Yokosuka, Japan, included duties as staff FNP, Department Head of Family Practice, senior nurse for Directorate of Ambulatory Care and Interim Officer in Charge at Naval Branch Clinic Chinhae, Korea. He was selected and served on the Executive Committee of Medical Staff (ECOMS), Executive Committee of Nursing Staff, and the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.

In June 2004, Cmdr. Service transferred to the Naval Hospital in Cherry Point, N.C., where he served as Associate Director of Medical Services. He additionally served as the Command Managed Equal Opportunity officer, Advanced Practice Representative for ECOMS and Clinical Director for the Special Operations Clinical Training program. In 2005, Cmdr. Service deployed with Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 to Anbar Province in Iraq where he served as medical officer providing Level I echelon combat medical care to forces in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He earned the distinction of being the first Naval Officer in 3rd Marine Air Wing history to earn the Fleet Marine Force Qualified Officer warfare designation.

In 2006, he reported to Expeditionary Health Services Pacific, providing direct medical and consultative support to more than 48 ships assigned to Expeditionary Strike Group-3 and other SURFOR Pacific assets. While assigned, he completed the requirements and was awarded the qualification designator as Expeditionary Strike Group Surgeon.

In 2007, he reported aboard Naval Branch Health Clinic in Sasebo, Japan, where he served as interim Officer in Charge and Head of Medical Services overseeing medical care to more than 6,800 beneficiaries. During the tour, he deployed as a medical provider to Expeditionary Medical Facility-Kuwait, serving as the Medical Liaison Officer for 18 transiting combat Army Brigades and two Marine Expeditionary Units.

His next assignment brought him to the Navy Personnel Command, serving as the Nurse Corps assignment officer for Advanced Practice, Commander, and Perioperative communities. In August 2012, Cmdr. Service was slated by the Surgeon General to assume charge of NBHC Mayport managing all medical and dental services in the Navy’s third largest Fleet concentrated area.

Cmdr. Service is board-certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner and is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the University of Tennessee Imhotep Honor Society. His personal awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with silver star, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with four gold stars and various other campaign and unit awards.

He is married to the former Ms. Tara Helton and has three daughters.