Michael G. Breslin

Michael G. Breslin served in the United States Army during Vietnam, obtaining the rank of Major.

A lifetime resident of Albany County, Mr. Breslin’s 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.

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

After graduation, Mr. Breslin 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. Serving in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968, Mr. Breslin was Infantry Company Commander in the 4th Division.

Honorably discharged in 1969, Mr. Breslin earned numerous awards and decorations including the Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge.

A graduate of the University of Toledo Law School, Mr. Breslin was Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review, graduating 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 then 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 and Tom is a retired Supreme Court Judge.

Mr. Breslin served as the Albany County Executive for 17 years, retiring in 2012. In this position, Mr. Breslin 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.

Mr. Breslin’s community service includes more than 20 years on the board of Hospitality House, a residential drug treatment facility, 13 years as attorney for Saint Anne Institute, a facility for adolescent girls, seven years on the board of La Salle School for Boys and more than 10 years of coaching community youth baseball and softball teams. He was a member of the Albany County Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Committee. Mr. Breslin has also served on the service academy nominating committees for Congress members Sam Stratton, Michael McNulty and Paul Tonko for more than 40 years. He is a lifetime member of Tri-County Council Vietnam Era Veterans.