Michelle Byron

Michelle Byron was born in the Philippines and raised in Spartanburg, South Carolina. She is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Class of 2001, and recently retired from the United States Army after 23 years of active-duty service as a Military Intelligence officer. Her career included leadership and operational assignments across the Middle East, central and eastern Europe, Korea, Hawaii, and the continental United States.

Michelle completed deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Israel and Afghanistan, as well as an operational assignment supporting Operation Joint Forge in Bosnia. Throughout her service, she led diverse teams and served in trusted advisory roles, operating at senior levels in complex and dynamic environments.

From February through April 2024, Michelle completed a Department of Defense SkillBridge Fellowship with Hewlett-Packard, Inc., working with the Government Affairs team. Following her transition from active duty, she launched Mind Your Mahjong in the summer of 2025, a small business centered on teaching and hosting American Mahjong as a way to foster connection, confidence, and community.

Michelle was drawn to the Dog Tag Fellowship Program at a moment of transition, when she was looking for both community and guidance as she built something new. She values Dog Tag’s emphasis on purpose, leadership, and shared experience, and looks forward to learning alongside other veterans while continuing to shape the next chapter of her professional life.

Michelle is the first in her family to serve in the U.S. military and is married to her West Point classmate, LTC (Retired) Curt Byron, Jr. Together they have three children and remain very active in their local community. Her favorite baked good is key lime pie.