1. Michael Franken's final posting was as deputy director of military operations for the United States Africa Command.
11 Facts About Michael Franken
1. 2.
Michael Franken was the Democratic nominee for the 2022 United States Senate election in Iowa, which he lost to Republican incumbent Chuck Grassley.
3.
Michael Franken attended Morningside College and the Naval Science Institute before graduating on an ROTC scholarship from the College of Engineering at the University of Nebraska and entering the United States Navy in 1981.
4.
Michael Franken is a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School's college of physics, MIT Seminar XXI, the University of Virginia school of executive education, the Brookings Institution's legislative affairs curriculum, and Babson College's business leadership program.
5.
Michael Franken served as the United States Africa Command's deputy for military operations, the United States Central Command's flag officer responsible for plans and strategy for three years, the chief of staff at US Third Fleet, and as executive assistant to Commander, Fleet Forces Command.
6.
Michael Franken presented the worldwide orders book to Secretary Donald Rumsfeld from 2003 to 2005 and was the first military officer to serve as a legislative fellow for Senator Ted Kennedy.
7.
On October 14,2021, Michael Franken confirmed that he would be seeking the Democratic Party nomination for United States Senate in Iowa for the seat held by Chuck Grassley, a member of the Republican Party.
8.
Michael Franken defeated former US Representative Abby Finkenauer in the primary election in a major upset.
9.
Michael Franken was born the youngest of nine children in rural Sioux County, Iowa.
10.
Michael Franken's father was a machinist and blacksmith, while his mother was a school teacher.
11.
Michael Franken joined the US Navy at the age of 22 at the urging of an older brother.