Michael Dakduk is a Marine veteran and deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. After his service, he completed his undergraduate studies at UNLV in 2010. Michael served as the UNLV Rebel Vets Organization president, previously named the UNLV Student Veterans Organization, while enrolled as an undergraduate. Before graduating, the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation selected him as a Truman Scholar. He later served on the board of directors and as executive director of the national organization Student Veterans of America (SVA). He completed his graduate studies at Johns Hopkins University.