CAPT Michael Rovenolt
Captain Rovenolt is a native of Turbotville, PA. He began his military career in 1987 in the US Army serving an Army Aviator. As a Chief Warrant Officer, he flew AH-1 and AH-64 Attack helicopters on various assignments until his discharge in 1995. While serving in the Army, CAPT Rovenolt earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle University. He was commissioned in the Navy through Officer Candidate School in 1996 and earned his wings of gold in 1999. He is a graduate of JPME phase I/11 and holds a master’s degree in American History from American Public University.
CAPT Rovenolt completed F/A-18 Fleet Replacement Squadron training at VFA-106 in June 2000 and subsequently reported to the Royal Maces of VFA-27 in Atsugi, Japan. As a Royal Mace, he completed numerous at-sea periods on the USS KITTY HAWK within the Seventh Fleet AOR and one combat deployment to the Fifth Fleet AOR in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH (OSW) / Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF). His follow-on assignment was to Strike Fighter Weapons School Pacific serving as a Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor (SFTI).
CAPT Rovenolt returned to VFA-27 in December 2005 as the Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor completing three more at-sea periods aboard the USS KITTY HAWK. In June 2007, he reported to the VFA-31 TOMCATTERS serving as the Administrative Officer, Safety Officer, and Operations Officer. During this tour, he completed a combat deployment onboard the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF). In December 2009, he was assigned to the Joint and Coalition Operational Analysis (JCOA), Joint Staff J-7 (Hampton Roads) serving as military analyst and Executive Assistant (EA) to the Director. During this time, CAPT Rovenolt graduated the Joint Forces Staff College earning full Joint Officer Qualification.
CAPT Rovenolt returned to VFA-31 TOMCATTERS in August 2012 as Executive Officer ultimately assuming command in November, 2013. As CO, he completed a combat deployment onboard the USS GEORGE H W BUSH in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE and ENDURING FREEDOM.
In June of 2015, CAPT Rovenolt reported to the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC) as N7 Department Head. He served as the TOPGUN “Skipper” for over a year and a half. During this time, he led further developments of Advanced Strike Fighter Tactics for the high-end fight. CAPT Rovenolt detached NAWDC in January 2017 and reported to VFA-106 for refresher training. He served as an AFCENT Combined Air Operations Center Battle Director, Al Udeid AB, Qatar from March to June 2017 in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE and RESOLUTE SUPPORT. After completion of refresher training in February 2018, he reported as Deputy Commander, Carrier Air Wing FIVE in Iwakuni, Japan. He commanded Team BADMAN from August 2019 to November 2020. As CAG, CAPT Rovenolt regularly flew five of the six Type / Model / Series aircraft assigned to the air wing as either a fully mission, or mission qualified, aviator. Following this tour, CAPT Rovenolt reported to Commander, Naval Aviation Atlantic and served as the Chief of Staff and N3 Operations Officer from Dec, 2020 until assuming command of UVA NROTC in April, 2022.
CAPT Rovenolt has accumulated over 6,300 military flight hours including 4,100 hours in the F/A-18 A-F and over 1150 carrier arrested landings. He has qualified in eleven military aircraft and is currently NATOPS qualified in the F/A-18E/F, EA-18G, and MH60S. His awards include the Legion of Merit, Joint Meritorious Service Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, six Strike Flight Medals, one with Combat “V”, three Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medals, and two Army Commendation Medals.