Michael Blake served in the United States Army from July 2001 to February of 2005, and served in Iraq from April of 2003 to March of 2004. After leaving the service he attended S.U.N.Y. Cortland and earned a bachelors degree in Political Science. He is currently the Program Manager and Chair of the Board of Directors for the Veterans' Sanctuary. He is committed to advocating for and assisting recently returned Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans in readjusting to civilian society after discharge from the service.