I enlisted in US Air Force and the New Mexico Air National Guard in 1982, went to Basic Training two days after High School graduation. After basic training, I trained to be a weapons systems mechanic and then cross trained to be a crew chief working on A-7D aircraft. While I was enlisted, I attended the University of New Mexico and earned a bachelor’s degree in 1989. I was soon selected to attend Officer School and became Second Lieutenant on Aug 2nd, 1989.
I attended Undergraduate Pilot Training in Laughlin AFB from Nov 1990 to Jan 1992, and from there went on to fly KC-135s for the next 10 years. I was a pilot and maintenance officer for the 161st ARW, Phoenix Air National Guard as well with the 163rd ARW, California Air National Guard, March AFB, CA. Retired from March AFB at the rank of Major in Sept 2002.
The greatest aspect of my service is that I participated in various deployments and operations including the first Desert Storm, Panama, Thailand, Norway, the Kosovo Air War, Operation Allied Force, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Noble Eagle.
I am so grateful for my 20 years of service and being able to travel around the world, proudly serving alongside some of the best people I have ever met in my lifetime and creating those memories of a lifetime.
Alongside my 20 years of sworn Military service, I served 21 years as a sworn Federal law enforcement Agent in Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection. I flew helicopters on the US Border for 21 years. I proudly served with outstanding Agents in various locations such as, San Diego, Montana, Washington DC, Tucson and retired in 2017, from Colorado Springs. I have a total of 35 years of sworn service to the country – which includes 6 years of overlap time serving the Border Patrol and Air National Guard at the same time.
I met my wife in the Air Force, and we married in 1990. My wife served for 24 years as a nurse, and she retired as a Major in 2006. We are blessed with three grown children and happily live in Tucson, AZ.
I was born with polycystic kidney disease, which is hereditary. I was unaware I had kidney disease until I was in my fifties and my kidney function started to fail. I started dialysis at age 56 and have been on dialysis since December 2019. I have been on the active transplant list since then as well.
I enjoy being active and like to hike and hunt in Arizona. I like to golf when I can and just got started playing pickleball. I plan on getting back to traveling with my wife when I get a transplant, and I will gladly serve kidney and dialysis patients and services as I can.
For medically cleared donors, giving the gift of life through living kidney donation has been found to be very safe. DOVE will assist all prospective donors throughout the process and make sure they do not incur any out-of-pocket expenses related to the evaluation or surgery. A healthy person can live a normal life with one kidney and save Michael’s life with the other!
Your support, whether through spreading the word on social media or considering becoming a donor, can make a profound impact on his life and the life of his family!
Please click on the link below if you would like to learn more OR call (551) 233-1611