Candidate for
United States Representative; District 16

Mel Levey was born and raised in Merced, a place his family has called home for more than 140 years. Following the 9/11 terror attacks, Levey felt called to serve his country and was accepted to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where his work ethic, problem-solving skills, and leadership laid the groundwork for his career.

Upon graduation and commissioning from West Point, Levey deployed three times to Iraq and Afghanistan where he managed the transportation, training, operations, and organization of thousands of soldiers, and millions of dollars of equipment.

During this time, Levey had numerous responsibilities, including command of a platoon in an ethnically divided Baghdad neighborhood with 200,000 civilians; responsibility for training and deploying his soldiers; planning and supervising Battalion movements; management of an annual budget in excess of $1.2 million; and planning combat operations for a 4,500 Soldier Brigade in Afghanistan.

In recognition of his service and exceptional combat leadership, Levey is the recipient of the Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Combat Action Badge, among other decorations.

Levey is the son of Arnie, a small business owner in Merced, and Barbara, the Assessor-Clerk-Recorder for Merced County. Levey currently lives in Merced, where he is an active member of the St. Patrick's/Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Parish.