Souda Spotlight: Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Mike Wright American Forces Network Souda Bay

By MC2 Kelly Agee, Public Affairs

Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Mike Wright, a native of Charlotte, N.C, has been in the Navy for 13 years and 5 months and has been stationed at NSA Souda Bay since July 19, 2019. Wright comes from a military family: his dad, mom and two brothers were in the Marine Corps and his step-dad was in the Navy. Currently, he works as American Forces Network’s leading petty officer and operations manager, ensuring his Sailors are taken care of and that Team Souda members are receiving the command information they need to make good decisions — both professionally and personally.

What does a typical day look like in American Forces Network?

As the leading petty officer my job is to take care of all the administrative items when it comes to my Sailors. That includes processing their leave, helping them gain leadership roles, making sure they are involved in the command and that they are where they are supposed to be at for their careers. On the operational side of things, it is my job to make sure the radio show is up, the radio signal is going out, we are getting our production in, we are getting our television requirements in and we are getting our products up on social media. Also, I make sure that my engineer, is taking care of the equipment. He takes care of $350,000 worth of equipment, which includes the AFN broadcasting servers, mother boards, computers, cameras, speakers and satellites.

What role does American Forces Network play for NSA Souda Bay?

We are mainly a radio detachment, we have radio shows Monday through Friday for four hours a day on 107.3 the Eagle. Some of the big parts of the show are the XO morning show, every Friday at 7 a.m., and the Chaplain’s Power Hour, which is bi-weekly Tuesdays at 8 a.m.

What is your favorite thing about your job?

Working with everyone else in the shop. I love teaching them and learning from them. I enjoy giving them the feedback they need to be a better person and Sailor. I love looking at the creative aspect of the different types of assignments about telling Team Souda members’ stories. That is the best thing about our job.

When you're not at work, what do you enjoy doing?

I am close to finishing my bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences. At this point in my career when it comes to promotion that is one of the big things I can do to help get selected and picked up for chief. I got motivated by my girlfriend and Chief Farone (AFN Leading Chief Petty Officer). All of us in the shop were like, ‘it is COVID lockdown and we can’t really do too much, let’s go ahead and bang out our degrees.’

What is something you want Team Souda to know about AFN?

We have been working really hard to increase our footprint. We are making more videos telling Team Souda member’s stories and getting more people on the radio. We are here for Team Souda, we want to tell your stories and to give you the information you need to ensure you are well taken care of here.