Michael (Mike) Teruel was born in New York City to Miguel Angel Teruel and the former Elsa V. Garcia. He spent the first five years of his life in New York, but moved to Puerto Rico when his parents decided to move looking for a better environment in which to raise their children.
In August of 1980, Mike enlisted in the United States Air Force just days after his 19th birthday. He was assigned to basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas with a subsequent assignment to Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi for technical schooling in September of that year, graduating as an honor student in the spring of 1981. While in Mississippi, Mike met a Christian who eventually was used by the Lord to save Mike. His first assignment after technical school was to Misawa Air Base in Japan. Subsequent assignments found him at Fort Meade, Maryland, San Vito Air Base, Italy and back to Fort Meade where he spent the last 10 years of his Air Force career with only a one-year break.
In 1996-1997, Mike was assigned to what was then the Joint Military Intelligence College (now know as the National Intelligence University) at the Defense Intelligence Agency on Bolling Air Force Base, Washington D.C. for a graduate program. In addition to a Master’s Degree in Strategic Intelligence that Mike earned at the NIU, he holds an Associate’s Degree in Intelligence Collection from the Community College of the Air force, a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Systems Management from the University of Maryland University College and a Bachelor’s Decree in Biblical Studies from the Sunset International Bible Institute. Mike is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Theological Studies with The North American Reformed Seminary.
Mike retired from the Air Force on 1 September 2000 and began work with ACS Inc. as an intelligence analyst. In April 2001, he was hired by the Department of Defense and began work at the headquarters complex at Fort Meade Maryland. From there, he transferred to Medina Lackland Training annex in August of 2005, subsequently moving with the unit to its current location at Potranco and 410 in San Antonio.
Mike is married to Ginger K. Teruel, nee Eskut, and together they have two daughters, Misty (married to Robert Draughon II) and Amber (married to Matthew Brannon), two sons, Michael (married to Hollie) and Lucas (married to Christina) and four grandchildren: Alex, Evie, Nathan and McKenzie. Mike and Ginger live in San Antonio with their two dogs, Bella and Mickey and since November 2018, Mike has served as an elder at Grace Baptist Church.
