Leadership Forum Connection
In November, I attended Chairman Buck McKeon’s informative Leadership Forum featuring General Jack Keene at COC’s Performing Arts Center and my friend Buck introduced me to Mike Garcia.

I was immediately impressed with Mike’s professional demeanor and his exceptional military service so I suggested that we collaborate to create his veterans page.

Saugus High School

Michael J. Garcia Air Medal

Michael J. Garcia was born on April 24, 1976 in Granada Hills, California. He and his family moved to Saugus when he was six years old.

Garcia played at Valencia’s Hart Baseball Complex from Mustang league to Colt and he worked at Lamppost Pizza in Saugus during high school.

Garcia graduated from Saugus High School on June 17, 1994. At an early age, he became obsessed with fighter jets resulting from his older brother’s hobby of building model airplanes. He even met Vietnam War’s famous ace, Randy “Duke” Cunningham.

During high school, Garcia knew he wanted to fly fighter jets off air craft carriers, so he set his sights on attending U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis.

Congressman Buck McKeon sponsored his application and Dr. Clyde Smyth conducted his extensive interview sessions.

Annapolis Naval Academy
On July 1, 1994, Garcia entered Annapolis which he immediately realized was seriously regimented.

Michael J. Garcia Unit Patch

“That first summer of boot camp training was intense, but the academics were even more demanding,” said Garcia. “My first year as a plebe was like being a prisoner.”

To hardened and discipline plebes, older cadets took pleasure in harassing them by randomly ordering them to recite daily meal menus, describe various weapons trivia, etc.

“It didn’t take a genius to realize who should be avoided on campus,” added Garcia.

He qualified earning expert badges with a 9MM pistol, M-14 and M-16 rifles and also participated on the academy’s high power rifle team.

As a midshipman, during his second summer, he was selected to attend a six-week Marine Corps training course at Quantico, but the highlight of his four years at Annapolis was a special assignment to Spain.

And so he went to sea for four weeks aboard an old nuclear submarine, the USS Grayling, through the Straits of Gibraltar, but life aboard that submarine was confining and rather unpleasant.

Pensacola Flight Training

Michael J. Garcia National Defense Medal

Garcia graduated from Annapolis Naval Academy on May 22, 1998 with distinction in the top three percent of his class with his Bachelors Degree in Engineering and Political Science.

Additionally, Garcia took classes at nearby Georgetown University earning his Masters Degree in National Security in December 1998.

With a seven-year commitment, Garcia was next assigned to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida for three months of survival training and then one year of primary pilot training.

There, he took 15 hours of flight simulation, which preceded learning to fly a powerful 185 MPH Beechcraft T-34 training plane, which Garcia said “was a propeller plane on steroids.”

Garcia first soloed in July 1999, which he found exhilarating.

Advanced Jet Training
Garcia’s primary pilot class consisted of 12 trainees and he was one of four who qualified for advanced jet fighter training at Naval Air Station Meridian, Mississippi.

First, he flew a two engine 300 MPH T-2 Buckeye training jet requiring an oxygen mask, a significant step up from T-34 propeller planes.

Michael J. Garcia Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

In August 2000, Garcia advanced to a 450 MPH T-45 Goshawk jet trainer, and by February 2001 he began aircraft carrier landing and takeoff training.

“Lifting off and landing on an aircraft carrier was one of the scariest things I had ever experienced,” said Garcia. “My knees shook uncontrollably during my first landing and wouldn’t you know it, I had to immediately take off again.”

He took off and landed 12 times before earning his “Wings of Gold” flight and becoming Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) on Feb. 23, 2001.

Next, Garcia was assigned to the Naval Air Station in Lemoore, California for combat weapon training and to become a Super Hornet F-18E pilot.

The Super Hornet’s armaments included a 20MM cannon, assorted bombs from 500 pounds to 1,000 to 2,000 pounders, laser guided smart bombs, and side winder missiles.

“Weapon training was both fun and intense, especially night time bombing runs flying with four other jet fighters,” said Garcia. “Becoming a proficient wing man was essential in preparation for combat.”

Shock and Awe
During downtime, Garcia and his pals were appalled with the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Michael J. Garcia & Son Preston

Instinctively, he knew there would be a call to action. In May 2002, Garcia reported for fleet training, which was taking off and landing his fully loaded combat ready Super Hornet, a noticeably hazardous exercise.

Meanwhile, Garcia married his first wife and their beautiful baby boy Preston was born Oct. 11, 2006.

Aboard super carrier USS Nimitz, one of the world’s largest warships, his squadron headed to the Persian Gulf in January 2003.

In March 2003, the Iraq War exploded with “shock and awe” bombing of Baghdad.  His first of 30 combat missions occurred the night of April 9, 2003, which targeted Saddam Hussein’s home town Tikrit.

“We bombed the daylights out of Iraqi Guard barracks and their headquarters,” said Garcia. “American pilots owned the sky so it was relatively safe and every mission we hoped to nail Saddam.”

Honorable Discharge
Garcia’s combat cruise ended in November 2003 and he had two more non combat cruises over the next five years.

Michael J. Garcia Family

Sadly, the strains of deployment ended his first marriage. After 11 years of Navy service, on June 8, 2009, Lt. Commander Michael J. Garcia received his honorable discharge at Naval Station Lemoore and he returned home to Saugus.

His awards included the Navy Commendation and Achievement Medals, Air Medal, National Defense Medal, and Global War on Terrorism Medal.

Garcia met several friends the next month at his old pizza joint, Lamppost Pizza, and that’s when he spotted the dazzling Rebecca Rollins.

In December, he asked her out to Piccola Trattoria Ristorante in Canyon Country and their relationship blossomed, leading to marriage on June 29, 2013 at Simi Valley’s best kept secret, the spectacular Hummingbird Nest Ranch.

His son Jett James was born Aug. 12, 2016, so the terrible two’s are currently at play.

“Rebecca is the best thing that’s happened in my life,” said Garcia.

Garcia has many achievements, including his current position as Business Development Director for Raytheon Company, a major Southern California U.S. defense contractor.

Mike, I applaud your ongoing service to America and for being a great American.

Hometown Heroes Military Banner Program

The City of Santa Clarita Hometown Heroes Military Banner Program honors our city’s heroes with a banner featuring the military member’s photograph, name, rank, and branch they serve. The banners are installed around Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Veterans Day.

To order a Hometown Heroes Military Banner to honor your hero, please visit Santa-Clarita.com/Heroes.

Veterans and Military Personnel

KHTS Hometown Station would like to publish information regarding name, branch of service, dates served, deployment orders, promotions, and award presentations from veteran and active military families and personnel. Please send your information to Bill Reynolds, Director of Veterans Affairs.

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