New Veteran Oral History
On September 4, 2026, Dr. Chris Magra conducted a veteran oral history interview with Captain (retired) Stephen Michael “Mick” Wilson, United States Navy, for the Center for the Study of Tennesseans and War.
A native of Marietta, Georgia, Captain Wilson graduated from The Citadel in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and received his Navy commission through the college’s NROTC program. He later earned a master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College. His professional education also includes executive and advanced logistics programs at Duke University, the University of North Carolina, and the University of Tennessee’s Haslam College of Business.
During a distinguished career in the Navy Supply Corps, Captain Wilson served in operational assignments aboard USS Dewert (FFG 45) in Mayport, Florida; USS Dubuque (LPD 8) in San Diego, California; and Naval Special Warfare Unit THREE in Manama, Bahrain. At NSWU-3, he was recognized with the Vice Admiral Robert E. Batchelder Award for exceptional logistics support to Naval Special Warfare operations across the Middle East, including operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Captain Wilson also served as Deputy Logistics Officer (J4) for the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force–Arabian Peninsula in Balad, Iraq, where he oversaw logistics operations supporting U.S. and Iraqi Special Forces. Among the highlights of his service was his command of Naval Special Warfare Group TWO Logistics and Support Unit (LOGSU-2), where he led support for East Coast-based SEAL Teams TWO, FOUR, EIGHT, and TEN.
His shore assignments included service at North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command; Naval Supply Systems Command Global Logistics Support; Naval Special Warfare Command; U.S. Special Operations Command; and, later, Naval Special Warfare Command, where he served as Director of Logistics and Chief of Staff.
Captain Wilson also spent 18 months in the Naval Reserves with Submarine Squadron TWO in Atlanta while working in the private sector as sponsor relations manager for NASCAR’s Richard Petty Motorsports. Beyond his logistics and leadership roles, he served as head coach of the All-Navy soccer program and as an assistant coach for the U.S. All-Armed Forces soccer program.
His personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, two Joint Defense Meritorious Service Medals, three Navy Meritorious Service Medals, two Joint Commendation Medals, two Navy Commendation Medals, and three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals. He is qualified as a Navy Expeditionary Supply Corps Officer and Surface Warfare Supply Corps Officer and is designated a Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist.
The Center for the Study of Tennesseans and War is honored to preserve Captain Wilson’s account of service, leadership, special operations logistics, and the experiences that shaped his naval career. To listen to this interview, click here to visit our YouTube channel.