Michael “Mike” Waltz is an American politician, author, and former U.S. Army Green Beret currently serving as the 29th National Security Advisor under President Donald Trump. Born on January 31, 1974, in Boynton Beach, Florida, he grew up in Jacksonville and graduated from Stanton College Preparatory School. Waltz earned a Bachelor of Arts in international studies from the Virginia Military Institute, graduating with honors as a Distinguished Military Graduate.
In the military, Waltz served as a Special Forces officer with multiple combat tours in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa, earning four Bronze Stars, including two for valor. He also held positions as a defense policy director in the Pentagon and as a counterterrorism advisor to Vice President Dick Cheney.
Transitioning to politics, Waltz was elected as the U.S. Representative for Florida’s 6th congressional district in 2018, succeeding Ron DeSantis. He was re-elected in 2020, 2022, and 2024 with over 60% of the vote each time. During his tenure, he served as chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and was known for his hawkish stance on China. In November 2024, President Trump appointed him as National Security Advisor, and he resigned his congressional seat to assume the role on January 20, 2025.
Recently, Waltz faced scrutiny following a security incident where a Signal messaging group discussing U.S. military plans in Yemen accidentally included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg. President Trump defended Waltz, stating he had learned from the mishap and emphasizing that it did not affect the success of the airstrikes.