Commander Michael D. Foster
Executive Officer, USS INDIANAPOLIS (LCS 17)
07 February 2025
CDR Michael D. Foster is a native of Bethesda, Maryland. Foster graduated from Florida State University in December of 2002 where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a focus in Human Resource Management and Organizational Development. Prior to joining the Navy, Foster worked as a human resources manager in the shipbuilding and repair industry at Atlantic Marine & Dry Dock and in the tractor manufacturing industry at Kubota Manufacturing of America, where he earned his Professional Human Resource (PHR) certification. He worked in the civilian sector for nearly 6 years before commissioning via Officer Candidate School in December 2008.
CDR Foster’s initial sea tour was aboard USS Nitze (DDG 94) as the Strike and Auxiliaries Officer with a follow-on Division Officer tour aboard USS Normandy (CG 60) as Training & Readiness Officer. He served as Weapons Officer and Plans & Tactics Officer, then as the Combat Systems Officer aboard USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) deploying in 2017 as part of George H. W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (GHWB CSG). While deployed to the Arabian Gulf and Mediterranean Sea, he served as Air and Missile Defense Commander Liaison Officer (AMDC LNO) aboard USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and later served as the AMDC LNO and training advisor to the United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group (UK CSG) in preparation for the commissioning of HMS Queen Elizabeth II during Saxon Warrior 2017.
His shore assignments include lead instructor for the Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Center’s (NMITC) Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) Planning System Route Planner course and Coordinator at the Surface Warfare Schools Command Prospective Executive Officer course. He attended the Joint & Combined Warfighting School and earned full Joint Qualification while assigned as Planner for Global Force Management at US Central Command HQ and is currently slated as the Prospective Executive Officer in USS Indianapolis (LCS 17).
CDR Foster’s awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five awards) and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards), the 2010 and 2013 Navy & Marine Association Leadership award and various other unit awards and campaign medals.