Major Michael Hopkins
Executive Officer
Major Hopkins was born in Darlington, MD, and enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 2007, where he served with the 4th Combat Engineer Battalion in Baltimore, MD.
He graduated from Towson University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant through the Platoon Leaders Course.
Following graduation from The Basic School in Quantico, VA, he spent a summer as an instructor at Officer Candidate School and then reported to the Defense Information School at Ft. Meade, MD, receiving the Public Affairs Officer designation.
Major Hopkins was then assigned to Marine Corps Forces Reserve in New Orleans, LA, as the community relations, operations, and media officer-in-charge. He worked closely with U.S. Northern and Southern Command, supported multiple exercises across Central and South America, and deployed to USSOUTHCOM as the Public Affairs Officer for Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force, Southern Command in 2016. While deployed, he worked with and in multiple countries, ensuring USSOUTHCOM communication objectives were met. He participated in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations under Joint Task Force-Matthew in Haiti. He also led numerous subject matter expert exchange programs while deployed.
From 2017 to 2020, Major Hopkins was assigned to U.S. Forces Japan at Yokota Air Base and served as the public affairs media and operations officer and deputy director. He was a critical member of a joint staff responsible for synchronizing strategic messaging between U.S. Indo- Pacific Command and the U.S. and Japanese governments. He had daily interactions with the Japanese Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Japan Joint Staff, and the U.S. State Department. He was recognized as U.S. Forces Japan Company Grade Officer of the Year in 2018.
Major Hopkins reported to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing in July 2020, where he served as the Deputy Director, Communication Strategy and Operations.
In July 2021, he reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, serving as the Battalion Operations Officer and Headquarters Company Commander.
Major Hopkins is a graduate of the Expeditionary Warfare School, Intermediate and Advanced MAGTF Information Operations Practitioners Course, Joint Interagency and Contingency Public Affairs Course, and has a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing and Communications from West Virginia University.
His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.