Judge Michael J. Cianci, Jr.
Judge Mike Cianci received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Arizona with high honors and his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Arizona Law School with honors. He also received a Masters of Law degree, with an emphasis in Environmental & Water Law, from the University of Washington Law School.

Judge Cianci has worked in a number of litigation positions, including as an active duty Air Force Assistant Staff Judge Advocate and Circuit Trial Counsel, where he prosecuted major criminal cases; as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Arizona, as a trial attorney in the liability defense section; and in private practice, where he worked as a civil litigation attorney, with a large motion and discovery practice.

Judge Cianci also worked as an Air Force civilian counsel for the Air Force Environmental Law & Litigation Division, where he was involved in complex environmental and water rights litigation. He supervised a field litigation office at Luke AFB, Arizona, defending western water rights claims, and was extensively involved with the successful settlement of a major water rights case involving Nellis AFB, Nevada.

Judge Cianci retired from the Air Force reserves with the rank of Colonel. His last two reserve assignments included serving as senior reserve JAG to Headquarters, 2nd Air Force and to the Air Force Environmental Law and Litigation Division. Prior to joining FERC, Judge Cianci served as the Chief Judge for the Phoenix Office for the Social Security Administration, where he supervised a staff of 40. He has been a United States Administrative Law Judge since 2001.

Judge Cianci has extensive ADR experience, and has completed multiple ADR courses, including the mediation course at the National Judicial College, in Reno, Nevada.