Born and grew up in Western Michigan; both parents were high school graduates; his father retired from being a highly skilled tool and die worker and foreman after 30 years in the same defense factory; and went on to be a successful small businessman; his mother helped raise two children and researched her way into becoming a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Mad Max went to the same school system K-12; attended his local community college: graduated from the University of South Florida with a B.A. focusing on Political Science (government & politics) & International Relations. Earned two M.A's from the Western Michigan University in Political Science, International Relations; & FAucation and History; Also, earned a K-12 Teaching Certificate; and retired with over 23 years credited with the Michigan Public School retirement System.

Max cares about & values Education. Making quality, affordable education available for every child in our country who is a U.S. Citizen or legal resident is one of the most important things we can do for the future of our country & the United States of America.

Vietnam 1967

Iraq service 2003-2004

Mad Max retired from the United States Army with over 32 years of service; he served in two wars; Vietnam and Iraq. He retired as a LTC (lieutenant Colonel) with service in thc Regular Army (RA); the Army National Guard: and the United States Army Reserve. His specialties included Civil Affairs, the lnfantry, Military Intelligence, History and senior level instruction of officers. His military education included Command and General Staff College: the advance courses in Military Intelligence; lnfantry: and Civil Affairs, & several Military Intelligence schools. He rose from Private E-I to LTC(0-5) in his 32 years of service to the United States of American. Max carried a Top Secret Clearance (TS) for over 24 years. When the dirty politicians & their media stooges trash Max, remember that he not only does the talk, but also did the walk. Also, please remember that Mad Max was a Military Intelligence officer and that he carried a Top Secret Clearance for over 24 years. His opponents can't change that fact.

Max recieved the Bronze “George Washington” Honor Medal (for Individual Achievement from Freedoms Foundation At Valley Forge for his service to veterans & his community.

CURRENT (Civilian) OCCUPATION:
Entrepreneur, writer, & retired Michigan Public School Teacher; Last public school teaching position before & after service in Iraq was teaching Social Studies, (government & history), etc to court ordered offenders (ages 12 - 20) in a military ventured, remote located residential treatment center for a Michigan public school system. Also responsible for classroom discipline & motivation.

Has also written current events related articles for local newspapers for over 26 years. First master's degree (MA) thesis in Political Science/International Relations was on: Tibet A Case For De Facto Sovereign Independence, over 365 pages with 53 appendices on the Diplomatic, Military and Political history of Tibet. This falls in line with America's current & continued interest in Central Asia where Tibet is located. The thesis (book) on Tibet can be found in the library of Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Mich.

An American first family for 2008:

Our Family: Max, Nellie, and their son Richard. Nelly & her painting of MM
Oil portraits by Nelly Riekse; Artist, wife & mother.