About The Author

Michael J. Gallucci didn’t set out to write a book. He set out to start a conversation that this country desperately needs.

Born in 1952 in Rochester, New York, Michael now resides in Augusta, Georgia, with his wife, Cobie, who has been by his side for over 38 years. He’s worn many uniforms in his life, both literal and metaphorical, but the one he wore for 35 years in service to this country holds a special place. From the US Navy to the US Army to the Army Reserve, he rose to the rank of Command Sergeant Major, and along the way, he carried with him a personal mantra: “Dare to Lead.”

His story spans the decades of America’s most defining moments. As a child and young adult, he witnessed war, the Civil Rights movement, the women’s rights movement, Vietnam, assassinations, the love generation, the Cold War, and the moon landing events that didn’t just unfold in history books but helped shape the lens through which he views this nation today.

Later chapters of his life brought more moments etched in memory: the ongoing struggle for equity, the rise of division, the horror of 9/11, and the heartbreak of watching the foundations of democracy strained on January 6th. And yet, through it all, Michael never gave up on the idea of America not as it is but as it could be.

Writing "American Pie" was not just an act of reflection; it was a call to conscience. It’s a challenge to each of us to reawaken our responsibility to one another and to the Republic we’ve inherited. He believes it’s time, past time, to talk not just about politics but about purpose. About values. About what it really means to form a more perfect union.

When he’s not writing or reading history, you’ll likely find him with a cup of strong coffee, reflecting on the world, or cooking up a killer batch of Sunday sauce, one of the many joys inherited from his Italian roots—that, and a deep belief that the American promise is still worth fighting for.

So, consider this your invitation: Dare to lead.