William Michael Haley (born February 7, 1970) is an American businessman and commissioned officer in the South Carolina Army National Guard, holding the rank of lieutenant colonel. He gained public prominence as the husband of Nikki Haley, who served as Governor of South Carolina (2011–2017) and later as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. The couple met in 1992 while both were students at Clemson University and married on September 21, 1996. As the spouse of the governor, Michael Haley became South Carolina's first gentleman, the first person to hold the position, serving from 2011 to 2017. During this time, he focused on supporting military families and veterans' issues, drawing from his own military service, which included a nine-month deployment to Afghanistan in 2013 as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in logistics and support roles. Haley began his professional career working at Exotica International, a clothing store, before entering the family business. He is the president of Haley's Materials and Logistics, a waste management and recycling company based in Lexington, South Carolina, which he has helped grow into a regional operation. Haley and Nikki have two children: a son, Renaud (born 2001), and a daughter, Nalin (born 2003). The family resides in South Carolina, where Haley continues his involvement in business and community service. His low-profile approach contrasts with his wife's high-visibility political career, but his military service and business acumen have been noted as supportive elements in their partnership.