Michael received his commission in 1979 via the ROTC program at the Senior Military College of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, commonly known as Virginia Tech. He began as an Air Defense officer, transferred to Ammunition (Ordnance), then to Acquisition. In Acquisition he served in Contracts, Program Management, and finally as a Uniformed Scientist. He retired as a Colonel in 2008 following over 28 years of regular Army service. He currently offers consulting services by teaching government contracts and Program Management for DC companies with contracts for teaching courses to Federal Government employees. Michael and his wife live in Sylva, NC.