Retired United States Army Major General Michael J. Nardotti, Jr. wrestled four years at the United States Military Academy at West Point and was a member of the varsity starting lineup at Uniondale High School in Uniondale, New York from his sophomore year until graduation.

He earned All-America honors at 160 pounds with a sixth-place finish at the 1968 NCAA Division I Championships. After losing in a preliminary round pigtail match to top seed Cleo McGlory of Oklahoma, Nardotti won three matches in a row in the consolation bracket.

In eight years of competition from junior high school through college, he never had a losing season and was only pinned once, at the NCAA tournament.

Nardotti received the highest total scholarships awarded in his class with appointments to West Point and the United States Naval Academy and partial scholarships to Lehigh University and Dartmouth College. He received his bachelor's degree in general engineering from West Point and earned his juris doctor from Fordham University School of Law.

Nardotti was a Top 10 Leader at West Point as a sophomore, junior and senior, and held the Top 10 Permanent Leadership position for his senior class of 800 cadets. He served as the Cadet Commander of the 1st Regiment of the United States Corps of Cadets and as the Secretary of the Honor Committee.

While on convalescent leave while recovering from combat wounds in Vietnam, Nardotti served as a volunteer assistant wrestling coach at Uniondale High School before returning to active military duty. Upon his return to military duty, Nardotti served as a wrestling instructor and Plebe coach at West Point and also worked as an assistant varsity coach for Army coach and National Wrestling Hall of Fame Distinguished Member LeRoy Alitz.

Nardotti is a decorated combat veteran who served over 28 years on active duty as a soldier in the Army. He was inducted into the United States Army Ranger Hall of Fame, which serves the exclusive purpose of honoring and preserving the contributions of America’s most extraordinary Rangers, in 2006. His induction was based on his actions in the Republic of Vietnam, leading a combat extraction of a Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrol of Rangers in distress.

Nardotti was wounded in that action and was awarded the Purple Heart and the Silver Star medal, the nation’s third-highest award for gallantry in action. He was also awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Army’s highest award for service, and the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal (two awards), one with valor device), Vietnam Gallantry Cross (Unit Citation), National Defense Service Medal (with one Bronze Service Star), Vietnam Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and Vietnam Campaign Medal.

He served as the Army Judge Advocate General from 1993-97. As the Judge Advocate General, he was the senior military lawyer in the Army and the senior partner of one of the world’s largest law firms, the Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Nardotti provided advice and counsel to the Army’s senior military and civilian leaders on extremely sensitive, very complex, and highly visible legal and policy issues. These matters included matters in criminal and civil litigation, matters of high interest to Congress and the media, and matters of extraordinary concern to the Army and the Department of Defense in the investigative and senior official misconduct areas.

Nardotti advised, counseled, negotiated, mediated, and advocated at all levels within the Army, the Department of Defense, the Military Services, the Department of Justice, and with Members of Congress. His team of over 4,000 full-time and part-time military and civilian lawyers and 5,000 full-time and part-time military and civilian administrative personnel was responsible for providing comprehensive worldwide legal support to a community of over one million family members.

Following retirement from active duty after over 28 years, Nardotti practiced law with a private firm for over 24 years and veteran pro bono work played an important role. He received special recognition from his firm and from a national Veterans' service organization for distinguished pro bono service. Nardotti also served multiple years on the boards or councils of six Veterans service and charitable organizations.