Michael was born in Darlington, South Carolina, in 1972, into a hardworking, blue-collar family. Influenced by his family's law enforcement background, Michael pursued a career in policing after high school, starting with security work and eventually serving in the Darlington Police Department for 19 years. He became a respected officer, rising to sergeant in the narcotics unit and later a senior special agent with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Michael also served as the Chief of Police in Society Hill until 2022. Married to Pam, they have two daughters, Sarah and Michaela. The family shares a love for football and enjoys time with their dogs, Carolina and Arya.