Hi folks. I'm Navy Chief Petty Officer (Ret.) Michael "Mickey" Strand,
I recently retired as from the Navy after 24 years of active service. My last duty station was as the Leading Chief of Combat Camera Group Pacific, in San Diego, Ca.

I started my Photography career some 30 years ago in a make shift basement dark room in my parents home in Racine WI. My father instilled the love for the craft into me at a young age and it continued to grow to to day. During high school I furthered my skills in photography classes and served on the yearbook and newspaper staff for 3 years.

I enlisted in the Navy in 1985 at a Milwaukee Brewers baseball game. After completing boot camp I reported to my first duty assignment on the USS Ranger (CV 61) where he served as a ships photographer. I continued to work my way up the ranks and improve my trade at shore and sea stations around the pacific, until being selected to teach Advanced Electronic Imaging at the Defense Information School (DINFOS), Fort Meade, MD in 1997.

DINFOS is the center for all five Armed Forces basic and advanced communications arts training. I was the co-creater of the Advanced Electronic Imaging Course, which has been taught for the last 12 years. This class trains students in the principles, techniques, and skills required to create photography, text, graphics, sound, animation and full-motion video thru the use of multimedia and web-based applications.

One of the highlights of my career was when I served as a personal photographer to the Secretary of the Navy, Gordon R. England, while deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001.

In 2001 I reported to Fleet Imaging Command Pacific in San Diego Ca. as the Training Department Chief. I continued in my passion of educating young sailors throughout the Pacific Fleet. This lead to my selection as the 2006 "Earl Seaver" Memorial Award recipient for my continuing efforts in educating young service members in the art of  Digital Media.

I have continued this love in the creation of new courses geared to bringing a Military No-nonsense approach to image capture, archival and digital imaging work flow management.  I still teach these classes to the Navy folks at Combat Camera, as well as the Coast Guard Public Affairs Team.  This class is now available with other great photographers and instructors through the Pixel Boot Camp classes at Cruising thought life.