IOWA

Michael is a fellow administrator of Marine Somalia Veterans Association; a group another veteran and I founded in 2009 to support our brothers. Michael puts a lot of effort into our group. He has also put significant effort into leadership roles in the VFW in his home state of Iowa. He continues to support veterans with fundraisers and community engagement using his media savvy.

Michael Young has lived a life of service to his nation, community and to his fellow veterans since beginning his service in the United States Marine Corps in 1990. Born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, he joined the Marine Corps at the end of his junior year in high school and went to boot camp right upon graduating from Abraham Lincoln High School. During his four years with the Marines he served at MCAS Futenma with MALS-36, 1st MAW on Okinawa, Japan and with 1st Supply Company, 1st FSSG at Camp Pendleton where he deployed for Operation Restore Hope in Mogadishu, Somalia in December 1992.

Michael has lived a life of “Continuing to Serve,” a belief that veterans should use their unique skills to continue to serve in their communities. He has served on boards of the City of Des Moines Access Advisory Board, Fort Des Moines Museum and Educational Center, Red Bull JROTC Parent Board, National Desert Storm War Memorial Association, and helped co-found the Iowa VFW Foundation. He is a life member of AMVETS Post 2, Larry Nehring Detachment of the Marine Corps League, VFW National Home, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Beaverdale Post 9127. Michael is also a member of the Military Order of the Cooties and Military Order of the Devil Dogs. Additionally, he serves as vice president of the Marine Somalia Veterans Association.

With the Beaverdale VFW Post 9127 he attained All-State and All-American Post Commander recognition. And with the Iowa VFW District 5 he attained All-State and All-American District Commander.

Michael continued to serve in various roles with the Department of Iowa Veterans of Foreign Wars as State Judge Advocate and in the chairs to become the 2024-2025 State Commander where he advocates for VFW members to pursue and have community engagement and service be their focus and goal.

Young is married to his wife Kristy, 31 years, and they have three adult children. He attained both his degrees, Associate of Arts in leadership studies and Bachelor of Science in business management, from William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Michael works for Broadridge Financial Services.