Points of Contact
Josh Pohribnak
Director, Military Education Program
San Diego Community College District
jpohribnak@sdccd.edu
Retired Navy Commander Michael R. Curtis has been selected to lead the San Diego Community College District's (SDCCD) Military Education Program, which serves more than 42,000 Army, Navy, and Marine Corps personnel at 26 military bases in 15 states.
Curtis retired from the Navy in August of 2011 after 32 years that culminated with the post of commanding officer at the Center of Naval Engineering near Chicago, where he supervised instruction of all enlisted engineers.
The SDCCD Military Education Program has served officer and enlisted personnel for more than 36 years at bases across the United States with courses ranging from sophisticated communications and radar-systems training to personal financial management and culinary arts. The Military Education Program provides instruction on the bases and is affiliated with San Diego City College.
As Director of the Military Education Program, Curtis will be responsible for overall management of a diverse portfolio of training programs. He will lead strategic initiatives aimed at expanding our client base and contracting opportunities.
"I am honored and excited to be given the opportunity to be the next director of military education at SDCCD," Curtis said. "The district has the highest reputation within the military education community, and is known for having the most knowledgeable and professional instructors."
Born in Huntsville, Alabama, and raised in Longview, Washington, Curtis enlisted in the Navy in 1979 and was stationed aboard the USS Enterprise after completing boot camp, hull maintenance school, and nuclear welding school. Duties over the next three decades would take him from Italy to Japan and assign him aboard eight different ships.
Upon retiring from the Navy, Curtis worked as a contractor for American Systems leading a team of analysts in providing detailed training and assessment of engineering management programs. He also served as general manager for Integrated Marine Services and Production Manager for CACI International proposal team, which provided information systems to the military.
"Michael Curtis has a strong background in both military service and education, which will support him in leading our program," said SDCCD Chancellor Constance M. Carroll.
Curtis is due to earn his Ph.D. in organizational leadership from Northcentral University this fall.