About Mike Coffman

For over 30 years, Mike Coffman has served the State of Colorado and his country as a dedicated member of the military, as well a as leader in Colorado state government.

In 1972, Mike Coffman started his military career by enlisting in the U.S. Army immediately following his junior year at Aurora Central High School at age 17. He earned a high school diploma through the Army and later attended the University of Colorado under the G.I. Bill. While at the University of Colorado, he continued his military service in the U.S. Army Reserve. Prior to graduating, he was able to take a leave of absence from the Army Reserve and the University of Colorado for one year to attend Vaishnav College in India and the University of Veracruz in Mexico.

In 1979, Mike graduated from the University of Colorado and transferred from the Army Reserve to the U.S. Marine Corps where he became an infantry officer. In 1983, after serving on active duty, he returned to Colorado and continued his military service in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. In 1983, he founded a property management firm that he remained the senior shareholder of until selling his interest in the business in 2000.

In 1988, Mike was first elected to the State House of Representatives and was re-elected in 1990. Shortly after his re-election, he took an unpaid leave of absence from the State House of Representatives to return to active duty during the first Gulf War where he saw combat as a light armored infantry officer. In 1994, Mike retired from the military after 20 years in the U.S. Army, the Army Reserve, the U.S. Marine Corps and the Marine Corps Reserve.

Mike was elected to the State Senate in 1994 where he became the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. In 1995, he completed the Senior Executive Program for State and Local Government at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. In 1998, he was elected State Treasurer of Colorado. Mike resigned in 2005 as the State Treasurer to return to active duty (from his retired status with the U.S. Marine Corps) to serve in Iraq. In Iraq, Mike worked in support of the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraqi (IECI) on two national elections and then helped establish interim local governments in the Western Euphrates River Valley. He completed a full tour of duty in Iraq in 2006 and returned to Colorado where he resumed his duties as the State Treasurer. In 2006, Mike was elected to the Office of Secretary of State.

Mike's wife, Cynthia Coffman, was Governor Bill Owens' Chief Counsel prior to being the Chief Deputy Attorney General for the State of Colorado. They are members of University Park United Methodist Church.