Simonelli, Mike: - Mike Simonelli has over 50 combined years of decorated and honorable service to the nation and New York. From 1989-2019 he served in the U.S. military. Graduating from the Air Force Academy with a B.S., Mike was an active-duty Air Force officer for five years before transferring to the U.S. Army National Guard and then Reserves. As a Civil Affairs Special Operations Army officer, Mike deployed to Iraq from 2003-2004 and then Afghanistan for the surge of 2010. Retiring as a lieutenant colonel, his awards include the Bronze Star Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Army Combat Action Badge, and Air Force Combat Action Medal. From 2000-2021 Mike was an active law enforcement officer assigned to patrol, highway patrol, community-oriented police enforcement and the Police Benevolent Association (PBA). He received numerous commendations and three times was overwhelmingly voted by his fellow officers to be on their PBA Executive Board. Most recently, Mike earned his M.S. in National Security Studies from American Military University in 2020.