Matt Michels

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Matt Michels

|image = Matt Michels.jpg

|office = 38th Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota

|governor = Dennis Daugaard

|term_start = January 8, 2011

|term_end = January 5, 2019

|predecessor = Dennis Daugaard

|successor = Larry Rhoden

|office1 = Speaker of the South Dakota House of Representatives

|term_start1 = January 2003

|term_end1 = January 2007

|predecessor1 = Scott G. Eccarius

|successor1 = Thomas Deadrick

|state_house2 = South Dakota

|district2 = 18th

|term_start2 = January 1999

|term_end2 = January 2007

|predecessor2 =

|successor2 = Nick Moser

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|3|9}}

|birth_place = Pierre, South Dakota, U.S.

|death_date =

|death_place =

|party = Republican

|spouse = Karen Lindbloom

|children = 1 son

|education = University of South Dakota (BS, JD)

|allegiance = {{flag|United States}}

|branch = {{flag|United States Navy}}

|serviceyears = 1985–1989

|unit = Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps

}}

Matthew Michels (born March 9, 1960{{cite web|first=David|last=Montgomery|title=Lt. Gov. Michels celebrates birthday today |url=https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/legislature/lt-gov-michels-celebrates-birthday-today/article_5595024e-4a8e-11e0-8921-001cc4c03286.html|publisher=Rapid City Journal|date=2011-03-09|accessdate=2018-12-04}}) is an American politician who served as the 38th lieutenant governor of South Dakota from 2011 to 2019.

Early life and education

Michels was born in Pierre, South Dakota. He graduated with a B.S. from the University of South Dakota in 1981 and a J.D. from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 1985. Michels also worked as a nurse between 1981 and 1985.

Career

Michels attended Naval Justice School and entered U.S. Navy JAG Corps. He was honorably discharged from the JAG Corps in 1989. He later became general counsel for Avera Health.

A member of the Republican Party, he served as speaker of the South Dakota House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007. Dennis Daugaard picked him as his running mate in the 2010 gubernatorial election;[https://abcnews.go.com/politics/2010_elections/South_Dakota 2010 Elections: Senate, House and Governors' Races By State - South Dakota - ABC News][http://www.dennisdaugaard.com/AboutMatt/ Dennis Daugaard for Governor] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101024222310/http://www.dennisdaugaard.com/AboutMatt/ |date=2010-10-24 }} they were reelected in 2014.