CAPT Michael T. Plageman

Executive Officer, USS AMERICA (LHA 6)

09 January 2025

Capt. Plageman, a native of Richmond, Virginia, enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1994 but later received his commission as a Naval Officer through OCS in 2002. He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2000 with a B.S. in Urban Studies. Capt. Plageman is a fully Joint Qualified Officer and earned a M.A. in Defense and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College in 2021 and a M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies with Influence Warfare and Financial Management concentrations from The Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy in June 2024. Plageman’s operational assignments include a division officer tour aboard Patrol Squadron TEN (VP-10) serving as Readiness, Powerplants, and NFO Training; USS Harry S. Truman as Assistant Navigator; a department head tour aboard Patrol Squadron One (VP-1) as Administrative, Assistant Training, Future Operations, and Operations Officers; and Patrol Squadron Four Seven (VP-47) as Executive and Commanding Officer.

Ashore Plageman served as Commander Task Force Six Seven (CTF-67) staff Analysis Officer, Weapons and Tactics Instructor, Battle Watch Captain, LNOs to CTF-69, C6F, Joint Task Force-HOA; LNO to CTF-72 as CTG 72.1 Operations Officer; Officer in Charge of multiple international detachments; Lead Exercise Planner in the Maritime and Combined Exercises Branch (J37), and Executive Officer to the Operations Director, J3 at U.S. Africa Command; Aviation Branch Head (N801K) and Special Access Programs Coordinator for Director, Programming Division (OPNAV N80).

After transitioning to the P-8A Poseidon, Plageman commanded VP-47. During his Command tour the Golden Swordsmen deployed during COVID-19 to U.S. 4th and 6th Fleets and earned the 2020 Commander Naval Air Forces Battle “E” Award.

He reported as Executive Officer of USS America in December 2024.