Rear Admiral Michael R. Van Poots is a native of Sparta, NJ. He is a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with both a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering Physics and a Master of Business Administration Degree in Management, holds a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Applied Management and Decision Science from Walden University and is a graduate of various programs from the Navy Post Graduate School, Naval War College, Joint Forces Staff College, and National Defense University.

His flag officer tours include Commander Undersea Warfighting Development Center, Deputy Commander Submarine Force Atlantic, Deputy Commander Submarine Force Pacific, Airborne Emergency Action Officer (AEAO) at U.S. Strategic Command for Operation LOOKING GLASS, in June 2025 he assumed his current duties as Deputy Commander, Submarine Forces.

His mobilization tours include Inspector General, Joint Task Force - Guantanamo Bay Cuba (JTF-GTMO) Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and Chief of Staff, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) Operation AQEA AL QAEDA EAST AFRICA EXORD.

His post command tours include Commander Office of Naval Research Reserve Component (ONR RC), Director Submarine Force Reserve Component (SRFC) and Deputy Commander Navy Reserve Region Readiness and Mobilization Command (REDCOM) Norfolk.

His command tours include Recruiting Support Unit Det. 428, Naval Security Force Naval Support Activity Naples Det. C, Naval Security Force Sugar Grove, Undersea Warfare Operations Det. N, Office of Naval Research Science Technology Det. 104, Office of Naval Research Science Technology Det. 105, and Office of Naval Research Science Technology Headquarters Det. 100.

At sea, his shipboard tours include USS BALTIMORE (SSN 704) and USS MONTPELIER (SSN 765) completing deployments to the Pacific, Northern Atlantic and Arctic Oceans.

Ashore, his staff tours include various submarine and operational related units including Commander Submarine Squadron Six Det. 504, Commander Submarine Group Ten Force Protection Det. 2, US Fleet Forces Maritime Operations Center Det. Greensboro, Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy (N3N5) at the Pentagon Navy Command Center, Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group (SSG 35) and he is designated a US Naval Academy Blue and Gold Officer (BGO) Deputy Area Coordinator.

He received his commission from the Reserve Officer Training Corps program in Troy, NY, in 1995. He is a Level II Joint Qualified Officer. His doctoral dissertation research was conducted on Knowledge Management in Lean Manufacturing implementation.

Last Updated: 3 July 2025