Todd Smalenberg was raised in NE Michigan, and graduated from Oscoda High School. Immediately following graduation Todd enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. Todd retired as a Force Reconnaissance Marine, Master Sergeant. He served in all three active duty Recon Battalions and 1st and 2nd Force Recon Companies. He had the distinct pleasure of being a point man, Team Leader, Platoon Sergeant and Battalion Operations Chief during his career. He also served in the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC), 1st Special Warfare Training Group, 2nd Battalion, Bravo Company as a Detachment Leader and Assistant Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of the Military Freefall and Jumpmaster Course.
Todd deployed throughout his career with several combat tours to include; Desert Storm, Somalia, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan and also counter-drug operations in South America and was the first U.S. forces to conduct counter-drug operations on the SW border by order of President George H.W Bush.
After retiring, Todd worked for a classified Intelligence, Reconnaissance, and Surveillance (ISR) program for the Department of Defense (DoD) and conducted low-profile Personal Security Details (PSD) throughout Iraq before becoming a Senior Operational Advisor on a select team of former Special Operation members. He advised the inter-agency of the United States Government (USG) off of taskings, assessments, and subject matter expertise for threat reduction and mitigation for not only the USG but also NATO and non-NATO countries. Todd embedded with US Forces while conducting combat operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and NW Africa.
Todd is an Ambassador for Move United, supporting and helping wounded and injured service members and more importantly helping bring recognition of adaptive sports to children who were born with challenges or suffered childhood injuries. He is also a lifetime member of the Veteran's of Foreign War (VFW) and a Board member of the Marine Reconnaissance Foundation.
He is married to Lynne Smalenberg, they have two grown and productive children who are happily married that have blessed them with six beautiful grandchildren.