First Sergeant Michael C. Cucinotta is a native of New Bern, North Carolina and entered the United States Marine Corps on 6 March 2006. He attended Recruit Training aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) Parris Island, South Carolina. After graduation he attended Infantry Training Battalion (ITB) at Camp Pendleton, California and was assigned the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of 0331, Machine Gunner in September 2006.
First Sergeant Cucinotta checked into Marine Corps Security Forces Training Company (MCSFTCo) to attend Basic Security Guard Course (BSG). After graduation of BSG he received orders to check into 1st Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team (FAST) in Norfolk, Virginia. During his time with 1st FAST, First Sergeant Cucinotta deployed to Manama, Bahrain providing a reactionary force within the United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) area of operations and was meritoriously promoted to Corporal.
In January 2009, First Sergeant Cucinotta checked into Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 3d Marines where he deployed as a Combined Anti-Armor Team (CAAT) as a Team leader/Squad leader in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Nawa District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan during 2009-2010. He deployed again in support of OEF in Garmsir District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan during 2011 serving as a Section Leader. In February 2011, First Sergeant Cucinotta was meritoriously promoted to Sergeant. During his time in 1st Battalion, 3d Marines, he attended Infantry Machine Gun Leaders Course, Foreign Weapons Instructors Course, Infantry Squad Leaders Course, and Sergeants Course.
In July 2012, First Cucinotta checked into Marine Corps Combat Instructor School and was assigned to Advanced Infantry Training Battalion /Advanced Infantry Training Company as a Combat Instructor. First Sergeant Cucinotta served as the Advanced Machine Gun Lead instructor and successfully trained 13 classes of Marines. In September 2015, First Sergeant Cucinotta checked into Weapons Platoon, Company F, 2d Battalion, 2d Marines, where he served as Machinegun Section Leader. Shortly after checking in to Company F, First Sergeant Cucinotta was selected for Staff Sergeant and attended Infantry Unit Leaders Course. Following graduation, he returned to his unit and subsequently took the helm as Platoon Sergeant for 1st Platoon, Company G. He later deployed to Okinawa, Japan on a Unit Deployment Program (UDP). While deployed, he graduated Helicopter Rope Suspension (HRST) Master Course and received orders to Marine Corps Security Forces Training Company.
In 2016, First Sergeant Cucinotta graduated from BSG and checked in as the Staff Non Commissioned Officer In Charge (SNCOIC) of Training Team 1 of MCSFTCo. Throughout his time at Security Forces, he also served as Company Gunnery Sergeant and Assistant Operations Chief. In 2018, he graduated from Force Fitness Instructor Course. In November of 2019, he was promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant.
In January of 2020, First Sergeant Cucinotta checked into Site Support Madison, Wisconsin for Inspector-Instructor duty where he served concurrently as the Operations Chief and Company Gunnery Sergeant. While serving as the Operations Chief, First Sergeant Cucinotta played a critical role in the mobilization of the Company G, 2d Battalion 24th Marines, for Operation Allies Welcome in Fort Pickett, Virginia. As Company G was about to demobilize, half the unit was tasked to support the Deploy for Training (DFT) Intrepid Maven 22.1 in Aqaba, Jordan. First Sergeant Cucinotta was the officer in charge (OIC) and subject matter expert (SME) for heavy and medium machine gun gunnery and CAAT employment for his Marines and the Jordanian Quick Reaction Force during the exercise.
In February 2023, First Sergeant Cucinotta was frocked to his current and executed orders to Inspector Instructor Site Support Syracuse, New York where currently serves as the Inspector-Instrutor First Sergeant.
First Sergeant Cucinotta's personal decorations include: Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement with three gold stars in lieu of fourth award, and the Combat Action ribbon.