NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Retired Marine Brigadier General Michael Wholley came to NASA in June 2004, after a distinguished career of public service in the Marine Corps. Immediately prior to joining the NASA family, he served as Executive Director of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, a non-profit charity providing college scholarships.

Image left: NASA General Counsel Michael C. Wholley. Photo credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls.

He was commissioned through the Naval ROTC program at Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., after receiving his B.A. degree, magna cum laude, in History and Literature. He holds a J.D. degree from the University of Virginia Law School; an LL.M degree from George Washington University in Environmental Law and Land Use; and a master's degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the College of Naval Warfare.

Wholley was designated a Naval Aviator in June 1968, and flew combat missions in Vietnam. After attending law school, he served in several military legal positions, eventually assigned as the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps/Director, Judge Advocate Division. In that capacity, he managed the active and reserve Marine legal community of more than 1,500 attorneys, paralegal and civil service support staff.