Taking Chance
Lt. Colonel Micheal Strobl
US Marine Corps (retired)

Michael Strobl enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1983. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in December of 1987 and served around the world in various duties as a field artilleryman. He deployed with both the 15th and 13th Marine Expeditionary Units (Special Operations Capable) and served in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait as an artillery platoon commander during Desert Storm.

Retiring from the Marine Corps in 2007, he accepted a position as an Operations Research Analyst in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. After 9 years working in the Pentagon, in 2016 he was appointed to the Senior Executive Service (civilian equivalent to General Officer). He currently serves as the Assistant Deputy Commandant of the Marine Corps for Manpower & Reserve Affairs in Quantico, Virginia.

Lieutenant Colonel Strobl holds a Bachelor’s of Business Administration (BBA) degree from Colorado Mesa University, a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Averett University, a Master’s of Science (MS) degree, with distinction, from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a Ph.D. in economics from George Mason University.

His personal memoir entitled “Taking Chance” (2004) has appeared in numerous books and was included in the 2007 documentary “Operation Homecoming” which was nominated for both an Academy Award and an Emmy Award. Lieutenant Colonel Strobl co-authored a screenplay based on his original story. In 2009 Home Box Office released the film which stars Kevin Bacon in the leading role as LtCol Strobl.

The HBO Film “Taking Chance” was nominated for two Golden Globe awards and ten Emmy awards including Outstanding Made for Television Movie and Outstanding Writing for a Mini- Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special. Lieutenant Colonel Strobl and his co-author won the 2009 Humanitas Award for their screenplay and the 2010 Writers Guild of America award for best adapted screenplay for a television movie.