A native Floridian, Michael Durkee joined the US Army in 2003 to enter the fight against terrorism. During his 11 years of service, he was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, in 2005, and then to Kandahar, Afghanistan, in 2012-2013. He flew more than 64 combat missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, witnessing numerous soldier injuries and enduring the loss of good friends. He is devoted to helping his fellow veterans and offers a deep respect and first-hand understanding of their challenges once service has ended. Michael joined the Wounded Veterans Relief Fund Team in 2014 as a liaison, assisting at events and spreading the word about how the organization differs from many other veteran service organizations. After first-hand experience with other veteran support organizations, Michael says what compelled him to join the Wounded Veterans Relief Fund Team was the fact that most of the donor funds go directly toward helping veterans. In 2015, Michael was voted onto the board of directors. Now, in his role of Executive Director, he helps to provide guidance and essential relief to Florida’s disabled veterans on a daily basis.
