Michael Vallejo’s commitment to 1/9 Association begins with family. His uncle, Juan Gonzales Vallejo, served with 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines in World War II and was killed in action on Guam in July 1944. Michael does not have a military background of his own, but that sacrifice gave him a lifelong respect for those who serve and a personal reason to serve his fellow man.
His relationship with the Association began in 2018 through reunion support work and grew through years of engagement with members and Gold Star families. Elected Chairman in the spring of 2025, he has worked to professionalize the organization, support his fellow Board members, and prepare the Association for sustainable growth.
Michael’s career spans decades of executive leadership in technology and operations. He is Chief Information Officer at NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, and holds three degrees that shaped his technical and strategic perspective.
He sees the role of Chairman as a responsibility built on trust: a guardian of the 1/9 legacy and a steward of the institution for the generations of Marines, Corpsmen, and families to come.