Before taking office as the Los Alamos County Clerk, Michael served four and a half years as the Los Alamos County Probate Judge. He holds a master's degree in Community and Regional Planning, and bachelor’s degrees in biology and Spanish from the University of New Mexico. Michael was raised in Los Alamos, graduated from Los Alamos High School, served in the Peace Corps in the Republic of Panama, and is an alumnus of Aspen Elementary School.