Matt Schlapp is the Chairman of the American Conservative Union, the nation’s original grassroots conservative organization. During his five-year tenure as chairman, ACU has almost tripled in size, expanded CPAC to reach 25 million live viewers and 1 billion Twitter impressions at the most recent CPAC. ACU also hosts dozens of additional events, including Battleground CPACs in the US and international CPACs abroad.

Congressman Michael Waltz represents Florida’s 6th congressional district, which includes Flagler and Volusia counties as well as portions of Lake and St. Johns counties. Michael is a proud Florida native, combat-decorated Green Beret, former White House and Pentagon policy advisor, small business owner, and a proud father.

Michael was born in Boynton Beach, FL and grew up in Jacksonville. He was raised by a hard-working single mother and is the son and grandson of Navy Chiefs.

Michael has always felt called to serve his country. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute and has served over 20 years in the U.S. Army. After being commissioned as an Army lieutenant, Michael graduated Ranger School and was selected for the elite Green Berets. He has served all over the world as a decorated Special Forces officer with multiple combat tours in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa. During his time in Afghanistan, Michael led the teams searching for Pvt. Bowe Berghdal, who deserted his post. Upon Berghdal’s return to the U.S., Michael was one of the first to call into question then-President Obama’s labeling of Berghdal as a hero and has continued to lead call for justice on behalf of all the service-members Berghdal’s desertion put in harm's way.

Michael’s public service continued in the Pentagon where he was a defense policy director for Secretaries of Defense Rumsfeld and Gates. Michael then went on to serve in the White House as Vice President Dick Cheney's counterterrorism advisor, which allowed him to see first-hand the difficult decisions the President and his Cabinet must make to protect our national security. During his time as a policy adviser, Michael continued his military service and directly implemented the strategy he helped devise. His experiences as a soldier and a policy advisor inspired him to write his own book, “Warrior Diplomat: A Green Beret’s Battles from Washington to Afghanistan,” the proceeds of which continue to benefit the Green Beret Foundation.

Following his time in the White House, Michael co-founded a small business that grew from just a handful of employees working from home to over 400 employees in Florida, Virginia, and nine countries throughout Europe and the Middle East. Their work supported the Departments of Defense and Treasury with analysis of terrorist financing and specialized training. As a business owner, Michael experienced first-hand how over-regulation and Obamacare obstructed small business growth ­– which is why he has been a proud supporter of the tax relief and deregulation under the Trump Administration. A former Fox News Channel contributor, Michael has excelled as a media commentator, providing expert commentary on foreign policy and defense issues to viewers around the world.

As an Army veteran and National Guardsman, Michael knows how to accomplish a mission for his country. This is the warrior attitude he brought with him to Washington when he was sworn in to represent Florida’s 6th congressional district in 2019. Michael is determined to be part of the new generation of leadership in Congress – servant leaders who lead by example with their values and deliver results. His commitment is the same now as it was in combat: to serve with everything he has, without regard for his own self, and with a sense of duty.

Michael is the father of a teenage girl. He lives in St. Johns County.