Michael (Mike) is a native of Virginia having been raised in Richmond. After high school, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps, serving for over 24 years and retiring in 2012 with the rank of First Sergeant. He obtained his B.A. in Political Science from Virginia Commonwealth University, and holds two Masters Degrees, an M.A in American History and an M.A. in Military History, from Norwich University in Vermont.  With his interest in history, he has researched his family history tracing his ancestry back to the American Revolution and to the original Jamestown Muster of 1624/25.  He is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Jamestowne Society. He currently works as a Hospitality Lodging Manager for the U.S. Air Force and Air Force Inns at Fort Eustis, VA.