CSM (Ret) Kim Thomas Michalowski, M.S.M. '79

Kim Thomas Michalowski is the director of the Bureau of Claims for the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs. Kim spent 28 years as a federal employee, working 24 years with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), and four years on active duty with the U.S. Air Force.

Kim is a Vietnam veteran, having served as a K-9 dog handler with the Air Force and retiring from the U.S. Army Reserves in July 2006 as a command sergeant major after more than 35 years of military service. His military awards include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters and the Army Commendation medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with silver oak leaf cluster, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with silver oak leaf, the Outstanding Military Volunteer Medal, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with two bronze stars, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with three bronze stars and the Vietnam Service Medal. Kim served as an infantry drill sergeant for a major portion of his U.S. Army Reserves career.

Kim holds a bachelor of arts degree from UW-Parkside ('79) and a master's degree in management from Cardinal Stritch University ('04). He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, class 50, in May 2000. Kim is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Dog Handler Association, the United States War Dog Association, the National Infantry Association (NIA), and the Air Force Security Forces Association.

Kim has also been awarded the Order of St. Maurice (Primicerius level) by the National Infantry Association and was the 2008 selectee for the DAV Commander's Award as the outstanding VBA employee. Kim is married to his wife of 38 years, Yolanda, and has three adult children and four grandchildren.