This week’s Veteran is Mike Holley, who served in the U.S. Army from 1993–2006. Holley was commissioned as an officer in the Military Police Corps, after receiving an Army ROTC scholarship. He trained at Anderson, Alabama in the Officer Basic Course in addition to additional courses. Mike was lucky enough to be assigned to Fort Hood, Texas with the 545th MP Company, which supported the 1st Cavalry Division. During his career Mike felt a calling for the law, and applied for and was accepted to change his specialty career path to that of Military Police Judge Advocate (LLM), an officer branch related to Judge Adjutant General, JAG. Holley attended law school at Texas Tech. The military services need a System of Laws just as any society does, and Holley served as a prosecutor during his tour in Iraq, as well as at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and as defense attorney in Korea, Japan, and Thailand. He taught at the judge advocate school. Following his military service, Mike served as a civil lawyer, then as a misdemeanor prosecutor in Harris County following his arrival in the area in 2012. DA Brett Ligon was lucky to snag Mike from Harris County, and for years Holley was a loyal lieutenant to Ligon. Following Mr. Ligon’s resignation last year to run for State Senate, Governor Abbott appointed Mike Holley as District Attorney for Montgomery County, and our little neck of the woods is the better for it. DA Holley is an extraordinary man. Many a time, when DA’s change over, there is a temporary office upheaval with personnel wanting to change positions. Following DA Holley’s appointment, there was no turnover reported; and senior leadership was stable. Holley promotes internal talent and practices the strong delegation and military nurture model of an Officer-NCO style of leadership. Meaning, he appoints and delegates, and expects his Assistant District Attorneys, ADAs, to pursue rightful justice for those that have offended the law in Montgomery County. Holley is a big believer in professional development for his people, ensuring they have access to formal training, and constant evaluations and feedback, while mentoring and pairing his experienced ADAs with new personnel in teaming together to better themselves in their craft. Essentially, no one works alone in the District Attorney’s office and everyone is always involved in a chain of support. Good Luck Mike, and Congratulations on being MCNs ‘Veteran of the Week’.