Florida Veteran Health Heroes

2019 Florida Veteran Health Heroes 6 Lieutenant Colonel Mi- chael Castro is a Drill Status Guardsman as- signed to the 114th Space Control Squad- ron, based at Patrick Air Force Base (AFB)/Cape Canaveral Air Force Sta- tion (AFS). Lt Col Castro is currently the Assis- tant Operations Officer and a Space Opera- tions Crew Command- er. Michael began his active duty service in 2004 as a nuclear launch officer, serving as a missile combat crew member at F.E. War- ren AFB, WY. During this tour, he assumed the deputy commander, commander, instructor, and codes control- ler positions, developing his nuclear launch expertise. After completing his tour, Michael was transferred to Vandenberg AFB, CA, serving as a nuclear operations instructor, guiding and mentoring future missileers. During his assignment, he also aided in honing nuclear launch operations skills, developing training products, and controlling highly sensitive and classified docu- ments. In 2011, he completed his missile instructor tour, then separated from active duty, joined the Air Nation- al Guard and also started pursuing a nursing degree. Since joining the Guard, Michael had the opportunity to work in space launch and now space control operations at Patrick AFB/Cape Canaveral AFS, FL. Michael served as the Training Chief, Scheduling Chief, Weapons and Tactics Chief, and now the Assistant Operations Officer, the third-ranking individual in a squadron of 80 person- nel. Lt Col Castro currently holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Business Man- agement, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and a Mas- ter of Aeronautical Science with a focus on Space Op- erations Management. Michael received his Business Management degree from the University of Central Florida, Orlando, in 2002. He received his Space Opera- tions Management degree from Embry Riddle, Daytona in 2010. Michael also completed the tedious two-year nursing program, achieved his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of North Florida and suc- cessfully passed his boards in 2015. Michael built his nursing experience on a cardiac progressive care unit and emergency department and is now a Gastrointesti- nal nurse, at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL. Additional training include Space 100 (Vandenberg AFB, CA), Aero- space Basic (Maxwell AFB, AL), Squadron Officer School (Maxwell AFB, AL), Basic Instructor (Vandenberg AFB, CA), Technical Training/Teaching Internship (Vanden- berg AFB, CA), Principles of Instructional Development (Vandenberg AFB, CA), Training Development (Lackland AFB, TX), Technical Writer (Vandenberg AFB, CA), Space 200 (Peterson AFB, CO), Space Control Mission Qualifi- cation Training (Cape Canaveral AFS, FL), Air Command and Staff College (Correspondence at Maxwell AFB, AL), Crew Commander Upgrade Training (Cape Canaveral AFS, FL) and Nurse Residency Program (Baptist Medical, FL). Lt Col Castro’s awards and recognition include var- ious military and civilian accolades. He received eight “Outstanding” (highest possible) and “Excellent” ratings in higher level Air Force Inspections. While on missile combat crew, Lt Col Castro earned eight Highly Qual- ified (highest possible) ratings on crew evaluations, culminating in a Crew Member Excellence award. He also received Volunteer of the Quarter and Professional Team awards. Since serving as a nurse, Michael was recognized by the hospital system CEO three times for exceptional care provided to his patients and their fam- ilies. Lt Col Castro is currently enrolled in the Family Nurse Practitioner, Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of North Florida. Once complete, he hopes to continue practicing at Mayo Clinic in either the GI or Endocrine department. Michael Castro, RN, BSN