Michael D. Gronkowski is currently the Department of Alabama Junior Vice Commander. He has been in the VFW for nearly twenty-five years and is a Gold Legacy Life member of Gentry-Isom VFW Post 2702 in Huntsville, Alabama. He has served at every leadership level, including the post, district, and department levels. He is a past two-time All-American Post Commander, All-State Commander, and two-time All-American District Commander.

Michael served honorably in the United States Army, starting his career in May 1991, and was assigned to the United States Army Reserve near his hometown of Larksville, Pennsylvania. After graduating high school, Michael enlisted in the Regular Army, spending the next eight years on various duty assignments in the United States and overseas. In March 2001, he left the Active Military and joined the Pennsylvania Army National Guard for one year before leaving the military for the next three years. In December 2005, he went back onto Active Duty after completing his second Advanced Individual Training (AIT); he was transferred to Fort Carson, Colorado, where he was deployed twice in Support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).

Michael will graduate shortly with an associate degree in computer information systems with a concentration in Cybersecurity/IT. He has attended various military schools throughout his career, culminating with graduation from the Signal Systems Support Specialist School at Fort Gordon, GA.

His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with one Silver Leaf Cluster and two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Good Conduct Medal with one silver knot, National Defense Medal with one bronze star, the Iraqi Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two bronze stars, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Korean Defense Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal with one bronze star, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with Roman Numeral 4, NATO Medal, Non-Article 5, the Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Citation, Air Assault Wings, Bronze German Weapons Badge.

Michael lives in Meridianville, Alabama, with his lovely bride, the former Bonnie Jean Graham, and their four rescued pets: Jackson the cat, Charlie Brown the Beagle, Ranger their pitbull mix, and their newest rescue, Lucy Marie.