Michael H. Herson

Who is Michael H. Herson?

Michael H. Herson is an American lobbyist and consultant for the United States defense industry, and serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of American Defense International. He was awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service in 1993.

While a student at Georgetown University, Michael Herson was selected to be a White House Intern where he served in the Executive Office of President Ronald Reagan and on the speech writing staff of Vice President George Bush. After returning to Washington in 1990, Herson was appointed as the Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Management and Personnel, the Pentagon’s senior manpower official responsible for all personnel policy and oversight of the recruiting, training, compensation, support, and management of the Department’s military and civilian personnel.

Herson also served as a special assistant to Dick Cheney when he was Defense Secretary.

After leaving the Department of Defense in early 1993, Michael Herson joined the Alexis de Tocqueville Institution.

On June 7, 1994, Michael Herson won the Republican primary election becoming his party’s nominee for the U.S. Congress in New Jersey's 6th congressional district and received national recognition as one of the youngest candidates in the country.