Michael McCleish was born on March 2, 1974, in Marion, Illinois.  He has a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Marquette University, a Master of Arts in Business Management from Webster University, and a Master of Arts in National Defense and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.

Michael commissioned into the U.S. Army from Marquette University Army R.O.T.C.  in December 1996, then entered active duty for training as a Quartermaster Officer.  His first operational assignment was at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in the 82d Airborne Division.  After schooling at Fort Lee, Virginia, and Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Michael completed company command and an assignment with the Quartermaster General.  He returned to Fort Bragg to a logistics position in the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, from which he had combat duty in Afghanistan, then Iraq.  He was promoted to the rank of major and joined the 7th Special Forces Group.   He would complete two more deployments to Afghanistan.  Following a year at the U.S. Naval War College, Michael was assigned to the U.S. Transportation Command at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, where he specialized in transportation planning and execution for foreign military sales cases.  Michael was selected for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel and for a battalion command.  He and the family moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he would take command of the Group Support Battalion in the 10th Special Forces Group.  Michael would complete command and then serve as the Deputy Brigade Commander for 4th Sustainment Brigade during his final years on active duty.  He retired on December 31, 2018.

Michael is currently employed as a defense contractor with the U.S. Space Force.  He is part of a team that provides logistics and sustainment support to five ground-based radars that provide early warning of ballistic missiles and provide space domain awareness.

After two decades of service to our Nation, he still desired to serve. He chose to volunteer the time he could not previously while on active duty to helping disabled veterans, substance use disorder recovery, and breast cancer patients - all through fly fishing.  Michael teaches fly tying and fly rod building and is an avid outdoor event photographer.  

Michael was a Warrior with Built for More 08-24.  Following the journey, his belief and commitment to Warriors & Quiet Waters program led him to reallocate his volunteer efforts towards WQW.  He is involved in the fly-tying and rod-building programs.  From January 2026 through December 2028, Michael will serve on the WQW Alumni Council.  

Michael has been married to his wife, Jennifer, since January 1997.  They have three children – Patrick, Collen, and Molly.