Background

Michael founded Mission Support Partners, which deploys capital and operational expertise into aerospace, defense, and government services companies, partnering with entrepreneurs and search funds to build durable businesses within the defense industrial base. Michael also co-founded Stoic Holdings in 2014, a private equity firm focused on direct acquisitions in niche manufacturing and specialty industries. Prior to his operating career, Michael was a senior analyst at Scopia Capital, a multi-billion dollar hedge fund, grounding him in rigorous financial analysis before moving into direct ownership. Beyond his investing work, Michael is an active member of Business Executives for National Security (BENS), reflecting his deep commitment to strengthening the defense industrial base.

Why American Operator

Michael has spent his career backing owner-operators in the lower middle market, and he joined the American Operator Advisor Network because the mission maps directly onto what he has built his professional life around: keeping specialized, high-quality businesses in capable hands rather than watching them get absorbed into roll-ups or lost in bad transitions. His background in deal structuring, capital strategy, and board governance makes him an exceptionally sharp resource during diligence, and his niche manufacturing and A&D experience gives him the pattern recognition to identify the right operators for technical businesses. Advisors with his profile are valuable to the network, and his presence on the bench substantially strengthens our ability to evaluate manufacturing and government-adjacent deals with credibility.