Colonel Michael L. Brooks is a native of South Boston, VA. He enlisted into the Marine Corps in August 1988 out of Parris Island, S.C. Upon graduation, Colonel Brooks was assigned to Third Battalion, 2d Marines, 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, N.C. as the operations clerk in the S-3 office. Between 1990 and 1991, while still assigned to 3dBn, 2dMar, he deployed in support of Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM.
In the summer of 1992, then Corporal Brooks was assigned to Officer Candidates School, Quantico, VA and in 1994, Sergeant Brooks was assigned to Marine Corps Combat Service Support School, Camp Johnson, NC.
In August 1997, Sergeant Brooks was commissioned a 2d Lieutenant through the Meritorious Commissioning Program. After the completion of The Basic School and the Adjutant’s course in 1998, 2dLt Brooks was assigned to 2d Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, NC., as the Regimental Adjutant. In March 2001, 2dLt Brooks participated in Cooperative Osprey 2001; a multinational North Atlantic Treaty Organization Command Post Exercise, in Clementsport, Nova Scotia. Prior to finishing his tour with 2d Marines, he obtained a bachelor of science in psychology from Campbell University.
In June 2001, he reported to Marine Air Control Group 28 in Cherry Point, NC, as the Group Adjutant and Legal Officer. In June 2003, Captain Brooks was assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, NC as the MEU Adjutant. While assigned to the 24th MEU, Captain Brooks deployed to Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM II, participated in Humanitarian Operations following Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, LA, assisted in the July 2006 evacuation of American Citizens in Beirut, Lebanon, and participated in operations INFINITE MOONLIGHT, Jordan, and INSPIRED UNION, in Kuwait.
From June 2007 to June 2009, Captain Brooks was assigned to the Wounded Warrior Regiment as the U.S. Marine Corps’ Liaison to the Veterans Affairs Central Office in Washington, D.C..
In June 2009, Major Brooks was selected to be the Staff Secretary for the Deputy Commandant, Combat Development and Integration, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Quantico, VA.
In 2011, Major Brooks attended Resident Command and Staff College in Quantico, VA and upon graduation in 2012, was assigned to U.S. Central Command, Tampa, FL as the Branch Chief, Special Actions Branch – J-1.
In June 2015, LtCol Brooks was selected and assigned as the Headquarters Battalion Commanding Officer at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. The mission of Marine Corps Base Hawaii is to provide facilities, programs and services in direct support of units, individuals and families in order to enhance and sustain combat readiness for all operating forces and tenant organizations aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
Following a successful tour as the Commanding Officer of Headquarters Battalion, LtCol Brooks was selected to attend the Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Upon graduation in 2018, he was assigned as the AC/S, G-1 for 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.
Colonel Brooks’ personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service medal, Meritorious Service medal (3d award), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation medal (5th award), Joint Service Achievement medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medal (3d award), and the Combat Action ribbon. Colonel Brooks has a Master of Arts degree in Human Resources Management, a Masters in Military Studies, and a Masters in Strategic Studies.