Mike Martinez, United States Marine Corps

Mike Martinez served five years of active duty in the U.S. Marines as an artillery officer before continuing his service in the Marine Corps Reserve, where he was promoted to Major. Inspired by his father, grandfather and uncle, who all served in the military, Mike was drawn to the Marine Corps because of the professionalism, dedication and pride he saw in its members.

While in college, he attended Army-run parachute school, where he met a group of Marines who mentored him and his fellow students. Their deep sense of pride and commitment to service left a lasting impression and reinforced his decision to join the Corps.

Throughout his military career, Mike deployed across the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf, supporting missions that ranged from famine relief efforts to securing the Kuwait border. He also assisted with the evacuation of U.S. embassy personnel from Somalia. The dynamic nature of those assignments was part of what made military service so rewarding. He thrived in environments where conditions could change rapidly, finding solutions to complex challenges while working alongside Marines and Navy personnel united by a common mission to help others.

Although he misses the camaraderie and sense of adventure that came with military service, Mike ultimately chose to retire from active military, build his life as a civilian and raise a family in Seattle. After spending more than 23 years in engineering and manufacturing roles at Starbucks, he found himself ready to step into the next chapter of his career during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, Mike is an emergency medical technician (EMT) and field training officer with AMR, where he combines his passion for helping others with his dedication to teaching and mentorship. Drawing on lessons learned throughout his military and professional careers, he takes pride in helping new EMTs build the skills and confidence needed to succeed in the field and make a difference when it matters most.

Rank Achieved

“I left active duty as a captain and was promoted to major in the reserves.”

Countries You’ve Visited

“I spent a lot of time in Japan, Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain.”

How Has Your Military Experience Helped You in Your Role with GMR?

“The military has a philosophy of setting high standards and then helping you get there. I like to take that and use the same approach when training others. I've always had a passion for training and that started in the military. At AMR, I love helping someone learn new skills and gain the confidence to go into ambiguous environments and execute those skills to help people. I think it's an absolutely thrilling profession, and I love helping launch people into it.”