Directing Staff (DS)
Commodore Michael Chidi Okonkwo – Directing Staff (DS)
Commodore Michael Chidi Okonkwo was born on 31 July 1965 at Issele-uku in the present Delta State of Nigeria. He hails from Nnobi in Idemmili–South LGA of Anambra State. Michael joined the Nigerian Navy on 19 January 1984 as a member of the 35th Regular Combatant Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy. He was commissioned a Sub-Lieutenant on 19 January 1987.
Commodore Okonkwo has undergone several military trainings. These include: the Sub-Lieutenant Technical Course at NNS QUORRA Apapa, Lagos (1994-1995); Officers’ Long Course (OLC) in the same institution, specializing in Communications (1996-1997); Principal Warfare Officers’ Course (PWO) at Nigerian Naval College Onne, Rivers State (1998); Seaport Security & Anti-Terrorism Course at Yorktown, USA (2002) as well as the Junior and Senior Command & Staff Courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji (1998 and 2003 respectively). He is a fellow of the National Defence College, Nigeria. His academic qualifications include: B.Eng. (Communications Engineering) from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (1994), Masters in Int’l Affairs and Diplomacy (MIAD) from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (2008) and MSc in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan (2014).
Michael has served in several units of the Nigerian Armed Forces both ashore and afloat. His last 3 appointments were: Chief Instructor (Senior Course) at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji-Kaduna (May 10- Sep 11), Deputy Director (Technical Communications) at the Naval Headquarters, Abuja (September 2011- September 2012) and Command Communications Officer at the Headquarters, Eastern Naval Command, Calabar (2013). He is currently a Directing Staff at the National Defence College, Abuja. Chidi is happily married to Mrs. Perpetua Ebere Okonkwo, and blessed with 5 children, 2 boys and 3 girls. His decorations include FSS, ECOMOG Medal, MSS, DSS, Psc(+) and fdc. He enjoys playing golf, jogging and watching movies.
