About Mike O'Brien
Mike O’Brien’s life is a story of patriotism, freedom, flying, and unwavering dedication to serving the American people.
Growing up in Pennsylvania, Mike’s hard-working, middle class family instilled the values of integrity, community, and of saying what you mean and doing what you say. Mike took these values to the U.S. Marine Corps where he served our country for 20 years as a TOPGUN fighter pilot and squadron commanding officer. Now, Mike is home, and he’s running for U.S. Congress to continue to serve the people of Pennsylvania.
Mike’s career is marked by unparalleled accomplishments while fighting for freedom in service to our nation. As one of the country’s top fighter pilots — callsign “Snooki” — he flew F/A-18 Hornets off of aircraft carriers, completed two combat deployments, and became a TOPGUN graduate and squadron fighter tactics instructor. In 2014, he became one of the first operational pilots to fly the cutting-edge F-35 Lightning II. Throughout his career he fostered crucial alliances with international partners, demonstrating his focus on bringing people together while dedicated to defending American values.
After reaching the pinnacle of tactical leadership in the Marine Corps as a squadron Commanding Officer, he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in August 2023 and returned home to Pennsylvania to run for Congress and fight for our community.
Now, Mike is running for Congress here in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District, because Pennsylvanians need a real patriot on their side, who listens to them, and who cares more about them than about winning partisan fights in Washington. Our current congressman, Scott Perry, was a ringleader of the insurrection that attempted to overthrow our democracy and he continues to fail to look out for our families.
Mike grew up entirely in the Pennsylvania public school system, graduated with distinction from the United States Naval Academy, and then went on to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he completed a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Through it all, Mike's proudest accomplishment is his marriage to Courtney, in its 18th year and counting. Courtney is currently an Active Duty Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel, the Commanding Officer of a KC-130J squadron, and is the all-time leading scorer for the U.S. Naval Academy women’s basketball team. They are the first and only married couple to command flying squadrons in Marine Corps history, a testament to their family’s dedication to national service. Mike and Courtney have two beautiful and rambunctious children, Brooklyn, nine and Jadon, seven.
