Michael D . Lumpkin Michael D . Lumpkin is an American former Naval Officer who served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Operations / Low Intensity Conflict at the United States Department of Defense . He simultaneously assumed duties as Acting Assistant Secretary for the same office . Previously , Lumpkin served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in Washington , DC . Lumpkin is a retired United States Navy SEAL Commander who served as the former Deputy Commander , Joint Special Operations Task Force - Arabian Peninsula for Operation Iraqi Freedom . He has military experience at the tactical , operational , and strategic levels of national policy . Lumpkin has also deployed to Afghanistan , the Horn of Africa , and the Philippines . His experience also includes planning and executing counternarcotics and counterinsurgency operations in Central and South America . He has a Master ' s Degree in National Security from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey . Life and education . Lumpkin was born in Oceanside , California , grew up in Vista , California and graduated from University of California , San Diego . Lumpkin has a Master ' s Degree in National Security Affairs and he is recognized by the Department of Defense as a specialist in both the Western Hemisphere and Special Operations / Low Intensity Conflict . As a Navy SEAL , Lumpkin held every leadership position from Platoon Commander to Commanding Officer of a Team . Two of these assignments were in the Republic of Panama which served as his operational hub . In Latin America , he was formally recognized by the Armed Forces Preparedness Association for his Outstanding Contributions to National Security while conducting counter - narcotics operations . Lumpkin also served as the Officer in Charge of the training and readiness of all West Coast SEAL Teams . The Teams he trained performed magnificently in the invasion of both Afghanistan and Iraq while sustaining no casualties . Lumpkin ' s final assignment in the military was in United States Special Operations Command Office of Legislative Affairs in Washington , D . C . where he served as liaison to the United States Congress on policy and appropriation issues supporting our nation ' s Special Operations Forces . During his 21 years of service , Lumpkin has received over 40 commendations and awards and was selected for promotion to Captain ( O - 6 ) . He was a general election candidate in California ' s 52nd District ' s Congressional race in the 2008 elections . Military career . SEAL Commander . During his military career as a US Navy SEAL , Lumpkin was assigned to eight operational tours and one as Commanding Officer of a Team . Two of these assignments were in the Republic of Panama . Other assignments included serving as Commanding Officer of Naval Small Craft Instructional and Technical Training School which trained foreign nationals in riverine and maritime operations . During the September 11 , 2001 attacks , he was assigned as Officer in Charge of the training and readiness of all West Coast SEAL Teams . In 2004 , Lumpkin served as the Deputy Commander of Special Operations Forces in Iraq where he supervised the daily operations of over 2000 Special Operators working in over 40 locations throughout the country . While in Iraq , he also oversaw the operations of 6 High Value Target interrogation facilities and was the principal planner for the establishment of the personal security detail for Interim Iraqi Government . His final assignment in uniform was at United States Special Operations Command Office of Legislative Affairs in Washington , D . C . where he served as liaison to the United States Congress on policy and appropriation issues supporting our nation ’ s Special Operations Forces .