Michael C Varicak

COL, USMC, Ret

A son of an Army, World War II veteran, and graduate of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Mike enlisted in the Marine Corps during Operation DESERT SHIELD and retired in 2021 after serving more than 30 years of active duty.  He is a graduate of the Amphibious Warfare School, Army Command and General Staff College, and the Air War College where he graduated with academic distinction earning a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies.

Mike served in multiple leadership positions throughout his military career and around the globe, including battalion command as a Lieutenant Colonel and regimental command as a Colonel while commanding one of the largest regiments in the Marine Corps.  He was also nominated for two Joint tours serving as the Chief of Current Operations at United States Southern Command and as the Emergent Sourcing Chief on the Joint Staff.

Mike’s service included deployments to the Persian Gulf and Kuwait for Operation SOUTHERN WATCH, the Defense of Kuwait, and participating in combat operations during Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM.

As a Lieutenant Colonel, Mike helped lead the consolidation and combining of leadership teams for two Toys for Tots campaigns resulting in one of the largest Toys for Tots programs in the nation with the distribution of over 800,000 toys to less fortunate children in the greater Atlanta area.

After leaving active duty, Mike worked for a brief period at the Home Depot Corporate Headquarters in project management operations before stepping down to help care for his father.

Mike is a member of the Wounded Warrior Project, Marine Corps League, Cobb County Honorary Commanders Association, and Navy Mutual Aid Association where he also has served as a nonresident director.  He is a proud supporter of Marine Corps Toys for Tots, the Shepherd’s Men/SHARE Military Initiative, and other local charities.  Mike and his wife Rebecca have made their home in Cobb County, Georgia, and are blessed with three children.