Mike Coffman (R-CO-6)

Mike Coffman Colorado District 6

Mike Coffman Biography from House.gov

Biography of Congressman Mike Coffman

Congressman Mike Coffman is a Coloradan dedicated to serving the people of the Centennial State and the nation. Coffman began his distinguished career of public service at a young age. At age 17, after finishing his junior year at Aurora Central High School, Coffman enlisted in the U.S. Army. Through the Army he earned his high school diploma and eventually attended the University of Colorado under the G.I. Bill. As a student at the University of Colorado, Coffman continued his military service as a member of the U.S. Army Reserve.

Coffman graduated from the University of Colorado in 1979 and transferred from the Army Reserve to the U.S. Marine Corps where he served on active duty as an infantry officer until 1983. After serving on active duty, Coffman continued his dedication to our national security as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Following his active military duty, Coffman returned to Colorado and applied the skills he learned as a Marine to the business world. He founded a successful property management firm and acted as the senior shareholder of his business for nearly two decades.

As a Marine and a small businessman, Coffman saw a need to bring more common sense to Colorado politics. He ran for, and was elected to, the Colorado House of Representatives in 1988 and 1990. Soon after his 1990 re-election, Coffman took an unpaid leave of absence from the Colorado State House to return to active duty during the first Gulf War. During this time, he served as a light armored infantry officer where he saw combat.

In 1994, after returning from Iraq, Coffman continued his service to the people of Colorado, serving in the State Senate and later as State Treasurer. Coffman resigned his position as Colorado State Treasurer in 2005 to again return to active military duty to serve in Iraq. Coffman went to Iraq with the Marines and worked to support the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq, helping ensure the voting rights of Iraqi citizens in democratic elections. He also helped establish interim local governments in the Western Euphrates River Valley. In 2006, Coffman completed his full tour of duty in Iraq and returned to Colorado where he resumed his role as the State Treasurer. Later in 2006, Coffman was elected to the office of Secretary of State where he served until 2008.

Coffman is honored to serve on the House Armed Services Committee, where he brings a vast amount of experience and knowledge with his military background. He also serves on the House Natural Resources Committee, working on behalf of Colorado citizens on water and energy issues.  As a former small businessman, Coffman also enjoys representing Colorado’s small businesses through his service on the House Small Business Committee.

Coffman and his wife Cynthia are members of University Park United Methodist Church. Mrs. Coffman was Chief Counsel to Governor Bill Owens prior to being the Chief Deputy Attorney General for the State of Colorado.

Biography from Coffman for Congress, Inc.

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

Immediately following his junior year at Aurora Central High School in 1972, Mike started his military career by enlisting in the U.S. Army 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.

After graduating from the University of Colorado in 1979, Mike transferred from the Army Reserve to the U.S. Marine Corps where he became an infantry officer. After serving on active duty for four years, he returned to Colorado in 1983 and continued his military service in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. That same year, he also founded a property management firm where he was the senior shareholder.

In 1988, Mike began his service in state government when he was elected to the State House of Representatives and was re-elected in 1990. Shortly after being re-elected, 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. After serving 20 years in the U.S. Army, the Army Reserve, the U.S. Marine Corps and the Marine Corps Reserve, Mike retired in 1994.

Mike was elected to the State Senate in 1994 where he became the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. One year later, he completed the Senior Executive Program for State and Local Government at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and in 1998 was elected State Treasurer of Colorado.

However, after 11 years of retired status with the U.S. Marine Corps, Mike resigned as State Treasurer in 2005 to return to active duty and serve in Iraq. During his service, he 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. Subsequent to completing a full tour of duty in Iraq in 2006, he returned to Colorado and resumed his duties as the State Treasurer. Later that year, Mike was elected to the Office of Secretary of State where he served until he was elected to Congress in 2008.

Congressman Coffman is honored to serve on the House Armed Services Committee, where he brings a vast amount of experience and knowledge with his military background. He also serves on the House Natural Resources Committee, working on behalf of Colorado citizens on water and energy issues, and the Small Business Committee.

Mike and his wife Cynthia are members of University Park United Methodist Church. Mrs. Coffman was Governor Bill Owens’ Chief Counsel prior to being the Chief Deputy Attorney General for the State of Colorado.

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