Michael D. Drake II

Chief Recruiter - NTAG Southwest

04 April 2022

Master Chief Petty Officer Navy Counselor Michael D. Drake II is currently assigned as the Chief Recruiter of Navy Talent Acquisition Group Southwest, headquartered in San Diego, California.
Born in Oakland, California, Drake later became a resident of Anderson, Indiana, where he enlisted in the United States Navy in April 1999.  After attending basic training at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Illinois, he received Fire Controlman “A” school training and AEGIS FCS ORTS “C” school training in Dahlgren, Virginia, he reported to USS VALLEY FORGE (CG-50) at San Diego, California.  While aboard CG-50, he worked in the Combat Systems Firing Division as a MK 99 FCS Technician and the Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist Coordinator, ultimately being promoted to Fire Controlman 2nd Class. After USS VALLEY FORGE was decommissioned, he was then selected for recruiting duty.
After Navy recruiter orientation training (NORU) in Pensacola, Florida, Drake received orders to Navy Recruiting District (NRD) Ohio, where he quickly qualified as a Recruiter within his first four months and was meritoriously selected as the NORU Distinguished Graduate, Master Chief Barkarian Award winner.  Assigned to Navy Recruiting Station (NRS) Columbus-West, he maintained a 2.5 PPR, and qualified as the Recruiter-in-Charge (RINC). He was then moved to NRS Columbus-North as the RINC, where he converted to the Career Recruiting Force and was promoted to Navy Counselor 1st Class.  After another year, he moved to NRS Columbus-West as the RINC and successfully led the station to achieving mission success across all categories in FY-07.
Drake’s next set of orders led him to NRD Los Angeles, where he assumed the Leading Petty Officer role at NRS Lakewood. While there, he helped his Sailors attain an advancement rate of 75 percent.  He was then hand-selected to be the Zone Supervisor of Southern Zone, NRD Los Angeles.  In 2009, he was promoted to Chief Navy Counselor and was selected to serve as the Island Division Leading Chief Petty Officer (DLCPO) and Senior Enlisted Leader.  Successfully leading the largest and most diverse division in Navy Recruiting Command, he was selected as the NRD Los Angeles DLCPO of the Year. In 2013, he was promoted to Senior Chief Navy Counselor and received orders to NRD Houston to be the command’s Enlisted Assistant Chief Recruiter (EACR). 
While at NRD Houston, Drake excelled by increasing production more than 30 percent and decreasing overall attrition by 40 percent. He then transitioned from EACR to the Officer Assistant Chief Recruiter position and increased production from last to 2nd of 13 NRD’s within Navy Recruiting Region West by achieving the “Big Four”.  Prior to his departure for staff duty at Naval Support Activity Mid-South in Millington, Tennessee, he qualified as a Chief Recruiter and graduated from the Senior Enlisted Academy.
Drake’s position at Region West was as EACR and his leadership resulted in more than 150% attainment across all NCO and Warfare production objectives for both the Active and Reserve components.  In less than one year at Region West, he was selected to Master Chief Navy Counselor and was immediately slated for the position of Chief Recruiter at NRD Los Angeles. Drake was instrumental in the transition of NRD Los Angeles to Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) Pacific. His leadership with career recruiter development helped to convert more than 30 highly qualified Sailors into the Career Recruiting Force.
Drake’s decorations and achievements include a Bachelor of Science in Management,  Meritorious Service Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal (six awards), Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation (1 bronze star), the Military Outstanding Voluntary Service Medal (2 awards) and various unit and campaign awards.