Born and raised in Chicago Mickey received his BS in Aeronautical Engineering from Aero-Space Institute in Chicago in 1972. He holds a Commercial Pilots, Flight Instructor and Airframe and Powerplant Certificates. He worked at Rockwell International as Stress Engineer on the B-1 and the Space Shuttle and at Northrop on the YF-17 and F-18. Held Senior Leadership Positions at Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA), US Air, Alaska Airlines and AAR Corp.
Mickey received an award from the FAA for "dedicated service to aviation and contributions to maintenance operations". He served as Chairman for the Douglas Aircraft Technical, Engineering and Maintenance Conference, as well as on the Congressional Blue Ribbon Panel for the anticipated shortage of pilots and mechanics.
In retirement his love for aviation continues. He builds and flies large scale radio control airplanes.