Meet the New Leaders: Cmdr. Michael Mosi, Executive Officer

Story and photo by Joel Diller, Public Affairs

Cmdr. Michael Mosi, Executive Officer

Cmdr. Michael Mosi, a native of Cheverly, Md., enlisted in the United States Navy as an Ocean Systems Technician, Analyst in December 1992 under the Delayed Entry Program. In 2001 he was commissioned through the University of Florida’s NROTC program where he earned his undergraduate degree. Mosi received his Wings of Gold in May 2003, holds a Master of Business Administration from Webster University and is a graduate of the University of Foreign Military & Cultural Studies (Red Team Member). Mosi comes to Team Souda from Naval Support Activity Mid-South, Millington, Tenn., where he served as the executive officer. He brings experience from five deployments and participation in several operations. He said that he has “energy for days”, strives for excellence, and motivates and empowers people to do what they’re trained to do.

Why did you decide to join the Navy?

School. So, long story short, it was to go to school to become a doctor. Where I got derailed to become a naval aviator? God knows. But yeah, I joined for school.

What experience in your career best prepared you for your role here?

Most recent and immediate preparation is having done the job once before. So I’ve been an XO over at Naval Support Activity Mid-South in Millington, Tenn. I was fortunate and unfortunate in the sense that I had the opportunity to build the way I did business from the ground up because I had a 6-month gap in the position when I took over. The bad thing is there was a 6-month gap so I had to learn the hard way. So I guess going through that process of having to understand everything without having someone give me a turnover has really been the best teacher preparing me for this particular job. Additionally, of course, having the benefit of having worked with all the peers that I’ve worked with, great leaders in the past, great Sailors that have mentored from both below and above, have all prepared me for this job now.

What are you looking forward to most about your time in Greece?

Some travel. That was one of the major decisions that my family and I, my wife and I made, in coming. My wife talked about travel and I had done extensive travel already being overseas so much, but then offering the same opportunity to my wife and especially to my kids. What I want to be able to do this time around is if I can’t do it personally, at least to afford my wife and kids the opportunity to travel out here.

Once the lockdown is lifted, where are you going?

Athens. Athens, first. So, of course having the African decent and African background, we’re looking for international stores that have African foods. My wife cooks all the traditional meals and Athens is a place she has heard has a good variety of those stores. Plus, you’re overseas you hear nothing but Athens, Athens, Athens, Greece. You turn on International BBC’s weather channel and they talk about Greece, it’s Athens, Greece, so when you come to Greece — you got to go to Athens.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Play pranks on my kids [laughs]. I’m a family man, so it’s spending time with the kids, spending time with my wife. If it’s travel, it’s travel. If it’s cooking, it’s cooking. I like to cook as well. If it’s joshing around, that’s what I do. Before the wife and kids it was all travel, all about getting around. Now, it’s all about sharing these experiences with the family.

What do you want Team Souda to know about you?

I have energy for days. If they see me upbeat and happy all the time it’s not a fluke, it’s who I am. It’s not going to die down. And then, I strive for excellence in everything that I do and I expect that everybody that is with me on Team Souda gives me their absolute, personal best at striving for excellence. I don’t think we can achieve excellence because excellence is a high mark, but as long as we give our personal best effort toward attaining excellence we’re going to drive ourselves to being top notch and a well-oiled machine. I’m also extremely happy to be here. The people here have been phenomenal. To come to a place that calls themselves a Team before I even get here is a battle already won. Teamwork is what really is going to get us through everything. I talk about giving the absolute personal best, with all the energy I’ve got I’m going to give you my absolute personal best, no matter what.