Michael G. Breslin

Specialization: Local Government

Michael G. Breslin has lived in Albany County all his life. His leadership skills became apparent at a young age. He was president of his graduating class at Vincentian Institute, a three-sport varsity athlete, and recipient of the Thom McAn Award as the outstanding scholastic football player in the area.

Mike has most recently served as the chief executive officer of Albany County government.  In this position he supervised the administration of more than 20 departments, managed a budget of more than $600 million and provided essential services to the people of Albany County, all while increasing the efficiency of and reducing the size of County government.

Mike was appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1957, where he played intercollegiate football, basketball and baseball, and graduated in the top quarter of his class.

Upon graduation, Mike was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry. After completing Airborne and Ranger schools, he served three years in the 82nd Airborne Division, where he was platoon leader and infantry company commander. He later served a year in Vietnam where he was an infantry company commander in the 4th Infantry Division. He was honorably discharged in 1969 as a Major. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal and Combat Infantry Badge.

Mike is a University of Toledo Law School graduate, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review and graduated first in his class in 1971. He was an attorney in private practice for more than 20 years, first with the firm of DeGraff, Foy, Conway, Holt-Harris and Mealey and for more than a decade with his brothers Neil and Tom in the firm Breslin, Breslin and Breslin. Neil is now a New York State Senator. Tom is an Albany County Court Judge.

Mike’s community service includes more than 20 years on the board of Hospitality House, a residential drug treatment facility, 13 years as attorney to Saint Anne Institute, a facility for adolescent girls, seven years on the board of LaSalle School for Boys and more than ten years of coaching community youth baseball and softball teams. He was a member of the Albany County Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Committee. He has served on the service academy nominating committees for Congress members Sam Stratton and Michael McNulty for more than 25 years. He is also a member of the Fort Orange Post #30, American Legion and the Louis W. Oppenheim, Post 1019, Veterans of Foreign Wars.