Michael D. Grogan
Michael D. Grogan, U.S. Army (Retired)
Deputy Sheriff | San Mateo County Sheriff's Office
Born at Fort Gordon, Georgia, and growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Michael D. Grogan aspired to enlist in the military from an early age—wanting to follow in the footsteps of his father, who served in the U.S. Army and the California Highway Patrol. But upon graduating from high school, he pivoted toward an opportunity to become a police officer, which he did at just 19 years old. Starting out as a Level I reserve officer in the town of Los Gatos in California from 1980 to 1982, he developed a strong passion for police work and then joined the force in Millbrae, where he spent 30 years and advanced to the rank of captain. After retiring, he became a deputy sheriff with the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.
In his 30s, while maintaining his responsibilities as a police officer, Mr. Grogan made good on his earliest aspirations and joined the U.S. Coast Guard as a special agent and ultimately one of the branch’s first sea marshals in the aftermath of 9/11. In 2004, he joined the Army as a special agent in its Criminal Investigation Division for 15 years; during this time, he handled worldwide protective service operations for the top Department of Defense (DOD) leaders and other high-profile DOD personnel. He also conducted felony-level investigations related to the Army, war crimes, and terrorism, as well as criminal intelligence collection and analysis. Over the course of his military career, he’s been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq and has accrued several awards, including the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, and Coast Guard Rifle Ribbon, among others. Grogan is a graduate of the 200TH session of the FBI National Academy, Quantico, VA.
Outside of his primary endeavors, Mr. Grogan served as president of the Millbrae Police Activities League from 1993 to 2007 and has long been a member of the U.S. Army Warrant Officers’ Association, the American Legion, the Peninsula Police Officers’ Association, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. His decades of expertise in both civilian law enforcement and the military culminated in the publishing of his book “Grogan’s Story: 40 Years a Cop and Soldier,” which detailed his accomplished career—from achievements to the tragedies he’s overcome in these fields. He also shared his life stories on The Overwatch Collective, a nonprofit organization and podcast co-hosted by his son who’s mission is “to offer mental health resources for our first responder and military communities.”
Upon reflection, Mr. Grogan considers himself fortunate to have worked in his profession for so long without being psychologically, emotionally, and physically broken. He attributes much of this to his wife of more than 39 years; together, they have two sons—Jeffrey a fire captain and Gregory—police officer and coast guard reservist.
The Overwatch Collective Podcast
Press Release
Marquis Who’s Who Honors Michael D. Grogan for Expertise in Law Enforcement and Military Service
Michael D. Grogan is recognized for continued success as a deputy sheriff with the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office
MILLBRAE, CA, November 06, 2024 — Michael D. Grogan has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Mr. Grogan has dedicated over four decades to law enforcement and public service, establishing a distinguished career marked by leadership and commitment. Since 2012, he has served as a deputy sheriff with the San Mateo County (CA) Sheriff’s Office, where he has been instrumental in maintaining public safety, upholding the law, and fostering community relations.
With a prominent career complemented by his previous experience, Mr. Grogan was influential as an officer, sergeant and captain with the City of Millbrae (CA) Police Department between 1982 and 2012. During this time, he demonstrated exceptional leadership and management capabilities, overseeing various operations and initiatives within the department. At the age of 19, Mr. Grogan’s career in this sector began as a level I reserve police officer in the Town of Los Gatos from 1980 to 1982. This foundational experience set the stage for his subsequent achievements and leadership roles.
As a leader in the military, Mr. Grogan excelled as a special agent with the U.S. Army’s criminal investigation division (CID) from 2004 to 2019, where he successfully honed his investigative skills and contributed to national security. As a CID agent, Mr. Grogan provided worldwide, 365 day, 24 x 7, protection for the top eleven Department of Defense officials. He also garnered extensive experience as a special agent with the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service from 1997 to 2004 immediately following the September 11, 2001, terrorist’s attacks on our country Mr. Grogan received active duty orders and became one of the Coast Guard’s first ever sea marshals. Sea marshals, working alongside of San Francisco bar pilots, were tasked with preventing terrorists from taking positive control of ships and running them into the Golden Gate Bridge, a pier, other ships transiting in and out of the San Francisco Bay, or other targets of opportunity. During his many years in the military, Mr. Grogan notably served in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Pentagon. After twenty two years of military service Mr. Grogan retired from the army at the rank of chief warrant officer three.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Mr. Grogan has pursued extensive education and training to enhance his expertise in law enforcement leadership. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Saint Mary’s College of California in 1992. Subsequently, in 2000, Mr. Grogan graduated from the 200th session of the FBI National Academy, Quantico, VA.. Mr. Grogan later graduated from the Los Angeles Police Department West Point Leadership Academy in 2004. Additionally, he earned seven different professional certifications from California Peace Officer’s Standards and Training (POST) between 1980 and 2012, underscoring his commitment to continuous learning, advancement, and excellence in his field.
Throughout his career, Mr. Grogan has been actively involved in several industry- and civic- organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Elks San Mateo Lodge 1112 and the U.S. Army Warrant Officers’ Association. He also served as the president of the Millbrae Police Activities League and the Peninsula Police Officers’ Association. These affiliations reflect Mr. Grogan’s, dedication to professional development and community service.
A well-written writer, Mr. Grogan authored “Grogan’s Story: 40 Years a Cop and Soldier” via Page Publishing in 2022. In honor of his service, among other awards he was decorated with a Meritorious Service Medal from the US Army, recognizing a career of outstanding service and contributions. He also received several other military awards from the U.S. Coast Guard. Eager for future success, Mr. Grogan envisions making meaningful contributions by leveraging his extensive experience in the ongoing impact of law enforcement and public service.
