Michael Martyn hails from Lodi, NJ. He’s the oldest of 6 children, but was separated from his siblings due to foster care. He grew up in foster homes, shelters, and group homes. Always seeking to give back, Mike did well in high school and always had the desire to serve. He served as a volunteer EMT in the Borough of Lodi, and was a 911 dispatcher for a few years. Then, he joined the New Jersey Army National Guard in 2006 out of desire to serve the country, completing his basic training and advanced individual training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO and serving as a Military Police Officer.
Mike was deployed with A Troop 102 Cav, and was attached to 2-113 infantry to Camp Bucca Iraq from 2008 to 2009. Mike and his unit served in the Middle East for about a year. During his deployment, Mike served as a machine gunner providing security on supply routes for military convoys, and as a force protection specialist on the base camp they were stationed at. Constantly facing dangerous situations, Mike carried out his duties in Iraq with honor and distinction. After returning from his deployment, Mike completed his National Guard enlistment, serving for the next few years. He left the military as a Sergeant, and while the transition was a bit of a struggle for him when he came back, he was determined to find a career.
Currently, Mike works as a Construction and Maintenance Technician for the New Jersey Department of Transportation. Just some of his duties in this role included performing physical testing of construction materials including asphalt, concrete, aggregates, steel, and electrical items. He executes calibration and routine maintenance on testing equipment, performing basic mathematical calculations to determine test results and dimensions according to plans and specifications. He also manages contractors and employees for various work projects in the North Region and has been with the NJ DOT for more than a decade.
In his spare time, Mike designs handmade custom pens and spends time with his young family. He hopes to be able to assist kids going through the foster care system, knowing the impact that positive role models can have on those young lives. He hopes to one day start a non-profit that can support foster kids in their transition from the foster care system.
He is married to his beautiful wife, Katie, and has 2 daughters, Nora Ann, 4, and a recently born baby girl, Hope, a few month old.
Thank you for your service, Mike!
Nominate a Veteran for #BergenCountyVeteranOfTheWeek
Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you?
The #BergenCountyVeteranOfTheWeek social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.
It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.
Bergen County Division of Veteran Services
The Division of Veterans Services was established in 1977 to provide resident veterans and their dependents with information and assistance in obtaining earned entitlements from federal, state, and local governments, as well as any that are available from the private sector.
Through a quarterly newsletter and direct client contact, the division provides Bergen’s veterans organizations and their auxiliaries and individual residents with up-to-date benefit information.
