Meet Michael Falgout: Marine veteran is making a difference at Cherokee Federal
Marine Corps veteran Michael Falgout began his professional career with Cherokee Federal in 2014 as a subject matter expert supporting the Marine Forces Reserve. He chose to join Cherokee because of the company’s mission and purpose.
“During my career in the military, I always felt that my work was supporting a higher cause,” Michael says. “Knowing that my job would play a vital role in supporting the Cherokee people gave me that same feeling. I love the fact that my work efforts contribute to improving the lives of so many.”
Soon after joining Cherokee, Michael was promoted to a team lead. In this position, he managed a staff of 32 employees that supported multiple departments within Marine Forces Reserve headquarters.
“Michael has decades of seasoned leadership experience,” says Cassandra Price, program director at Cherokee Nation Management & Consulting, a Cherokee Federal company. “As a retired Marine officer, he acutely understands the needs of our customers and empowers his team to go above and beyond to meet those needs.”
Michael enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1992 and served on active duty until 2001. During this time, he deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Native Fury, twice to Okinawa on six-month deployments and with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the U.S.S. Belleau Wood in support of Operation Restore Hope.
In 2001, he joined the Selected Marine Corps Reserves. He was mobilized numerous times with 4th Marine Aircraft Wing in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. He also served as the 4th Marine Division Headquarters’ Mobility Officer, the Administrative and Logistics Operations Center Watch Officer and the Joint Movement Control Center Officer-in-Charge for Exercise African Lion in Morocco, Africa.Michael retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 in 2018.
Michael credits the Marines with developing his leadership and adaptability skills.
“As a Marine, I had to be able to think on my feet, especially when things did not go as planned,” he explains. “Leadership is a trait that is ingrained in all Marines. These essential skills were transferrable to my civilian career. Program managers usually oversee complex, demanding projects and lead multiple teams.”
In 2018, Michael was promoted to program manager for Cherokee Nation Management & Consulting. He currently manages more than 100 employees and oversees 12 contracts valued at over $52 million for six government agencies.
“Not only do I enjoy what I do, but I love the people I work with,” he adds. “Cherokee has given me the opportunity to grow professionally and learn from some of the most talented people in the industry. It amazes me every day the time and effort the Cherokee team puts into making every project successful, every customer happy and every employee feeling appreciated.”
Who We Are
Cherokee Nation Management & Consulting is a part of Cherokee Federal, a team of tribally owned federal contracting companies focused on building solutions, solving complex challenges, and serving the nation’s mission around the globe for more than 60 federal clients. Cherokee Federal’s team of companies, with more than 3,600 employees, manages nearly 2,000 projects of all sizes across the construction, engineering and manufacturing and mission solutions portfolios — ranging from advanced data analytics and telehealth to cybersecurity, cloud and logistics.
Cherokee Federal is a division of Cherokee Nation Businesses, the economic engine of Cherokee Nation, the largest Native American tribe in the U.S. Its mission is to diversify and grow the economy of Cherokee Nation. Company profits support future business investments, as well as programs and services for tribal citizens. Cherokee Federal also believes in the value of a diverse workforce and in investing in the brightest talent to keep the company moving forward.