Michael Pucci

Michael Joseph Pucci (born 1 June 1963) is a retired US Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant and former Australian Liberal National politician who was the member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland for Logan from 2012 to 2015.

Born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, US, on 1 June 1963, Pucci is the youngest of eight children and was raised in Wisconsin, USA by his mother. When he was old enough, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, which started a 20-year career that took him to postings throughout the world including Australia, the US, and the Middle East.

Pucci studied at Coastal Carolina Community College in North Carolina and St. Leo's College of Florida and has qualifications in leadership, management, training, communications and administration management.

Prior to election Pucci worked as an executive manager in the facilities maintenance industry, loss prevention/assets protection officer, bartender, janitor, dealership lot attendant, paperboy.

Pucci served twenty years active service in the United States Marine Corps and is a veteran of the Gulf War. Whilst in the USMC, Michael achieved the rank of Gunnery Sergeant. His Decorations include 3 Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals (NMCM), 3 Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals (NCAM), 6 Good Conduct Medal (GCM), National Defense Service Medal (NDSM), Southwest Asia Service Medal (SWA) with three stars for service in three campaigns (Defense of Saudi Arabia, Liberation and Defense of Kuwait, Southwest Asia Cease-Fire), Kuwait Liberation Medal (KLM – Saudi Arabia), Kuwait Liberation Medal (KLM – Emirate of Kuwait). Ribbons: 2 Navy Unit Commendation (NUC), 3 Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC), Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 2 stars, Marine Corps Recruiting Ribbon.

Elected to the seat of Logan on 24 March 2012, Pucci was appointed to the Parliamentary Education and Innovation Committee. On Tuesday, 12 February 2013 Pucci was promoted to sit on the Parliamentary Ethics Committee. Pucci is the first American to be elected as a member of parliament in Queensland and the first U.S. Marine to be elected to Parliament in Australia.

On 22 November 2013, Pucci was further appointed to the Parliamentary Crime and Misconduct Committee. Pucci held positions on the two most prestigious and powerful committees under the Queensland parliamentary system.

Pucci was defeated by Labor's Linus Power at the 2015 election.

Pucci met his wife Anna during a posting to Brisbane. He later immigrated to Brisbane, Queensland after retiring from the US Marine Corps and became an Australian citizen.

Pucci is an active member of the Greenbank RSL, Australian American Association and the Building Services Contractors Association.