A native Washingtonian, Mike earned a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and an M.P.A. from The George Washington University. He first realized his passion for the environment while attending his suburban Maryland high school in the 1970’s. Mike, who retired from federal service in 2021 after 38 years, worked in government, private sector and academe in the environmental field. His environmental experience spans wetland restoration and protection, pesticide regulation, hazards materials management, and air and water pollution control and testing. Mike lived and worked in Germany for nine years, managing hazardous wastes for the US military in Europe and Middle East. In that overseas position and other jobs at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Mike embraced the challenges associated with solving tough environmental problems. Mike is an adjunct professor of environmental biology at Montgomery College.