Northfield Township Road District
Military Service & Honors
Mike Korman military service spans more than two decades in the United States Navy, from Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1991 through Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006.
Master Chief Petty Officer Michael J. Korman, USN (Ret.) — today Northfield Township’s Highway Commissioner — served 24 years, 10 months, and 13 days in the United States Navy, from Operation Desert Shield / Desert Storm in 1991 through Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006, including NATO peacekeeping tours in Bosnia and Kosovo. A Navy Reserve Seabee (Master Chief Equipmentman, Seabee Combat Warfare qualified), he rose to Command Master Chief — the senior enlisted leader for multinational commands and, in Iraq, for the police training mission under MNSTC-I.
In Photos
Mike Korman Military Service Timeline
As a member of a Navy Seabee construction team, Master Chief Korman mobilized to build Fleet Hospital Six, a 500-bed facility on the island kingdom of Bahrain that served as a secondary-care hospital for wounded U.S. and allied troops — and Iraqi combatants. After construction, he served as Equipment Operations Supervisor and Vehicle Dispatcher, managing a fleet of more than 70 vehicles, from trucks to heavy equipment such as cranes.
- Meritorious Unit Commendation
- Navy Unit Commendation
- National Defense Service Medal
- Southwest Asia Service Medal (3 awards)
- Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
- Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Master Chief Korman served as Construction Shops Supervisor for the NATO SFOR base in Sarajevo — a traditional public-works role until September 11, 2001. The team then shifted into a defensive posture, significantly improving base security, and he served as Interim Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) for the base and as the RSM’s deputy while on post.
- Defense Meritorious Service Medal
- Joint Service Commendation Medal
- Joint Service Achievement Medal
- National Defense Service Medal (2nd award)
- NATO Service Medal
As Command Master Chief of the NATO base in Skopje, Master Chief Korman was responsible to the Commanding General for all enlisted affairs of a 15-nation NATO force, and served as the de facto Headquarters Commandant, or “Base Mayor.”
- Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2nd award)
- Joint Service Commendation Medal (2nd award)
- Kosovo Campaign Medal (1 star)
- NATO Service Medal (2nd award)
Serving in the Green Zone in Baghdad, Master Chief Korman was Command Master Chief of the Iraq police training mission under Multi-National Security Transition Command–Iraq (MNSTC-I) and its Civilian Police Assistance Training Team (CPATT). Requested by name to deploy by then-Lieutenant General David Petraeus, he was directed to help stabilize the unit’s command triad (CO/XO/CMC). The command trained and equipped police forces throughout Iraq — including Special Police and Border Police — and he traveled extensively with the command’s general officer on rotary-wing and ground missions.
- Bronze Star Medal
- Joint Service Commendation Medal (3rd award)
- Joint Meritorious Unit Award (2nd award)
- Iraq Campaign Medal (2 stars)
- Adm. Claude V. Ricketts Award — Navy League
Featured Citations
U.S. Military Decoration
- Recipient: MCPO Michael J. Korman, USN
- Role: Command Master Chief, CPATT
- Command: MNSTC–Iraq
Recognized for exceptionally meritorious service leading from the front across Iraq — 112 rotary-wing flights and 82 ground convoy missions, and mentoring more than 700 Iraqi Special Police through Ar Ramadi, Baghdad, Fallujah, Mosul, Samarra, and Tikrit under indirect and small-arms fire. Master Chief Korman was requested by name for this assignment by then-LTG David Petraeus; the citation was signed by his successor as MNSTC-I commander, LTG Martin E. Dempsey.
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
TO ALL WHO SHALL SEE THESE PRESENTS, GREETING: THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AUTHORIZED BY EXECUTIVE ORDER, 24 AUGUST 1962 HAS AWARDED
THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL
TO MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER MICHAEL J. KORMAN, UNITED STATES NAVY
EXCEPTIONALLY MERITORIOUS SERVICE AS THE COMMAND MASTER CHIEF, CIVILIAN POLICE ASSISTANCE TRAINING TEAM WITH THE MULTI-NATIONAL SECURITY TRANSITION COMMAND – IRAQ IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM II AND III FROM 20 FEBRUARY 2005 TO 19 FEBRUARY 2006. IN A HIGHLY VOLATILE JOINT ENVIRONMENT, MASTER CHIEF KORMAN LED FROM THE FRONT BY PARTICIPATING IN 112 ROTARY FLIGHT AND 82 GROUND CONVOY MISSIONS IN SUPPORT OF IRAQI POLICE AND COALITION FORCES HEADQUARTERS THROUGHOUT IRAQ. TRAVELING THE MOST TREACHEROUS ROADS IN IRAQ TO VISIT POLICE STATIONS IN FALLUJAH, MOSUL AND SAMARRA IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMAND’S MISSION TO MAN, TRAIN, AND EQUIP 199,000 IRAQ POLICE FORCES, HE CAME UNDER BOTH INDIRECT AND SMALL ARMS FIRE NUMEROUS TIMES AND EXPERIENCED THE HIGHEST DEGREES OF DANGER WITH THE CONSTANT AND VICIOUS THREAT OF ROADSIDE BOMBS. HE DEPLOYED WITH AND MENTORED MORE THAN 700 IRAQ SPECIAL POLICE FORCES ON MISSIONS TO AND THROUGH AR RAMADI, BAGHDAD, FALLUJAH, MOSUL, SAMARRA AND TIKRIT. HE TRAVELED WITH THE IRAQIS IN THEIR VEHICLES IN AN EFFORT TO PROVIDE DIRECT MENTORSHIP TO THE TROOPS. HIS DYNAMIC LEADERSHIP AND NUMEROUS ACHIEVEMENTS CONTRIBUTED SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE MULTI-NATIONAL SECURITY TRANSITION COMMAND-IRAQ MISSION OF DEVELOPING AND SUSTAINING IRAQI SECURITY FORCES. THE OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MASTER CHIEF KORMAN HAVE BEEN IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF MILITARY SERVICE AND REFLECT DISTINCT CREDIT ON HIM AND THE UNITED STATES NAVY.
GIVEN UNDER MY HAND IN THE CITY OF WASHINGTON THIS 19TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2006
Navy League of the United States
- Recipient: Master Chief Equipmentman (SCW) Michael J. Korman, USNR
- Role: Command Master Chief, CPATT
- Command: MNSTC–Iraq
Awarded for inspirational leadership as the key enlisted advisor to a 1,000-person joint organization — leading Iraqi Department of Border Enforcement forces to the Iraq–Syria border at Waleed and Trebel, sharply reducing smuggling and terrorist activity, and helping ensure Iraq’s elections were prepared ahead of schedule.
Admiral Claude V. Ricketts was a selfless leader of devoted dedication to the Naval Service and his country. Rising from enlisted status to the highest rank in the Navy, the Admiral was recognized for his inspirational leadership by all who knew him. As a sailor, strategist, and statesman, Admiral Ricketts gained respect for his determination and positive actions to preserve the maritime strength of the nation.
In tribute to one who has demonstrated by his own actions a dedication to the high ideals by which Admiral Ricketts lived, the Navy League of the United States presents this Award in 2006 to:
Master Chief Equipmentman (SCW) Michael J. Korman, USNR
for exceptional meritorious service as the Command Master Chief of the Civilian Police Assistance Training Team (CPATT) while deployed with the Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM from February 22, 2005 to February 22, 2006. Master Chief Korman served as the key enlisted advisor to the Commander on all leadership, discipline and management functions of the diverse organization of more than 1,000 military and civilian personnel. Working under arduous and dangerous combat conditions, Master Chief Korman, a combat veteran, used his leadership and management skills honed in previous Bosnia and Kosovo operations to manage the day-to-day operations of the headquarters without deficiency. His superlative leadership and military prowess in leading Iraqi Department of Border Enforcement forces to the Iraq-Syria border and supporting their operations directly contributed to the dramatic diminishment of smuggling and terrorist activities along the border at Waleed and Trebel. He provided the Iraq Ministry and the United States Departments of State and Justice missions in Iraq with keen insights, uncommon leadership and proactive mentorship needed to ensure that the preparations for the Iraq elections were done ahead of schedule without fail. Master Chief Korman’s dynamic leadership and numerous exemplary achievements contributed substantially to the Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq mission of developing and sustaining Iraqi Security Forces and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service and the Navy League of the United States.
Presented this 14th day of July, 2006.
From Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm to Operation Iraqi Freedom, the record of Mike Korman military service reflects 24 years of dedication to the United States Navy and to the nation.
External resources: Navy League of the United States · About the Bronze Star Medal · Multi-National Security Transition Command–Iraq · Admiral Claude V. Ricketts