The Combat Veterans For Congress PAC is endorsing the 25th Combat Veteran For Congress in 17 states; he is a fiscally conservative candidate who will work to rein in the out of control spending by the Pelosi Congress.  Col. Mike Prendergast, USA (Ret) (R-FL-11) http://www.pickprendergast.com of Tampa, Florida served in the US Army for 31 years and is running for election for Congress in the 11th Congressional District of Florida.  He is running against two term Congresswoman Kathy Castor, ranked the 9th most liberal member of Congress based on her voting record, and handpicked by Pelosi to serve on several committees, and has voted in lock step with Pelosi 98% of the time, often against the interests of his constituents; she voted "yes" for the flawed health care bill.  Mike was born in 1956 and raised in Tampa, Florida.   He graduated from Clearwater Central Catholic high school in 1975.  Col Prendergast earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with Special Honors and a dual major in Political Science and Sociology from Jacksonville State University in 1986; a Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in Psychology from the University of the State of New York in 1986; a Bachelor of Social Science degree from Campbell University in 1995; a Master of Arts degree with a major in International Relations and a Certificate in African Studies from the University of Florida in 1990; a Master of Public Administration degree with a concentration in Public Management from Troy State University in 1997; and a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the U.S. Army War College with a major in Public Diplomacy and a concentration in Campaign and Strategic Crisis Planning in 2003.       

Mike Prendergast enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1978 and earned a commission through Officer Candidate School.  Col. Prendergast served with distinction in various important command and staff assignments throughout the United States and abroad, to include combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Kosovo, and humanitarian missions in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Cameroon, and Zaire.  Col. Prendergast also served as a Senior Policy Advisor for Defense, Intelligence, and Foreign Affairs, as an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow, in the office of U.S. Senator Bob Graham.  Col Prendergast received numerous military awards and decorations including Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two bronze Oak Leaf Clusters (1999, 2005 & 2007), Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze Oak Leaf Clusters (1996, 1997, 2001 & 2002), Army Commendation Medal with one silver Oak Leaf Clusters for the sixth award (1982, 1985, 1989, 1995, 1997, & 1998), Army Achievement Medal with one bronze Oak Leaf Cluster (1983 & 1987), and numerous campaign and other medals.  With more than 31 years of service, he retired in 2009 as U.S. Central Command’s Provost Marshal, a military position similar to a civilian Commissioner of Public Safety and International Chief of Police.   

Col. Prendergast and his wife Naomi returned to Florida in 2008 in preparation for his transition from active duty and in anticipation of serving in the Tampa Bay area where his leadership skills could do the most good for his hometown.  The Prendergast’s have two children and four grandchildren. Their daughter, Melissa Ann, lives in Savannah with her husband Caleb (a “Nightstalker” with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment presently deployed to Afghanistan) sons Dylan and Grant. Their son, Robert Anthony (a Fort Stewart Military Police Soldier recently deployed to Afghanistan), lives in Hinesville with his wife Elisabeth, son Robert Jr. and daughter Charlee Sue.  Col Prendergast has been endorsed by former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich,  Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite, Congressman Adam Putnam, Former Florida Governor Bob Martinez, and Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee.  He has been well received by the local 9-12 Groups, including the Tampa Chapter of which he is a member.  He is a lifelong member of the Military Officers Association of America.