LA Mesa Law Firm, P.C.

     Mike is a native of Virginia, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech. He is certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP) by the Project Management Institute, and is also a long-time member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Nuclear Society. 
     Prior to beginning his legal career, Mike spent more than two decades working as an engineer and project manager, in both the government and private sectors. His first job out of college was as a Shift Test Engineer (STE) on nuclear submarines at the naval shipyard in Charleston, South Carolina, where he earned an award from the Department of Defense for outstanding performance. 
     After that, Mike worked in the commercial nuclear power industry in Illinois and Tennessee, and then moved on to Department of Energy (DOE) superfund waste cleanup work. His experience in construction project management included overseeing several large projects at the Hanford Reservation in the State of Washington, where he was recognized for leadership by the DOE. 
     It was at Hanford where Mike first interfaced with Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), in order to complete an important safety assessment that would allow critical work to continue at the site. Later, Mike also worked as a private consultant to LANL on the Isotope Production Facility project. In addition, Mike has worked as a project management consultant to the County of Los Alamos. 
     Mike earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of New Mexico, where he was recognized for excellent achievement in legal research, intellectual property law, constitutional rights, and clinical skills. He was honored with the Clinical Honors Award for outstanding performance in the community lawyering clinic, where he served various clients. 
     Mike is a member of the American Bar Association, and is licensed to practice law in the State of New Mexico.  He resides on Barranca Mesa with his wife, Denise, a local real estate broker, commercial property owner, restaurateur, and former county councilor. 
     Mike’s hobbies include a keen interest in the history of the Pajarito Plateau. In fact, Mike and Denise’s home sits on land once occupied by Hispanic homesteaders and subsequently developed as one of the first private homes to be built in Los Alamos County. Mike wrote a paper in law school about the legacy of the homesteaders on the mesa at Los Alamos, which received accolades from his professors.