Born in Gentilly, QC Michel enrolled in the Canadian Forces in June 1976. Upon completion of his Structural Technician Course, he was posted to CFB Montréal garrison Longue-Pointe, QC until July 1980.

Michel was then posted to 5 Combat Engineer Regiment in Valcartier, Québec where he remained for the next two years serving as Str-Tech in the carpenter shop at the Resource Troop and where he met his spouse to be, Jeanne.

Upon promotion to Mcpl in July of 1982, he was posted back to Montréal garrison St-Hubert, QC until his promotion to Sergeant in April 1985; he was then posted to CFB Montréal, Nicolet detachment until 1988.

Michel was then posted to CFB Valcartier at the Citadel for two years and moved to Base CE as Coordinator for all Naval Reserve and Armouries between Matane and Shawinigan, Québec until his promotion to Warrant Officer.

Posted to 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta in 1992; he remained there for five years in various positions such as Preventative Maintenance cell Supervisor and Contract Officer.

He was posted back to Montréal in 1997 as Construction Troop Officer which was then located in St-Hubert. He moved the troop to LonguePointe in 1998 and went to Base CE from 1999 until his promotion to Master Warrant Officer in 2000.

Michel was posted to Canadian Forces School of Military Engineers in Gagetown, N.B for a period of two years and was posted to CFB Petawawa in 2002 where he filled various positions for four years until his appointment to Chief Warrant Officer in 2006.

In September 2006, Michel was posted to CFB Halifax, N.S as the Formation Construction Engineering Mechanical System Officer and was Special Commissioned to Captain in 2007 to move on as Building Maintenance Officer, Deputy Operations Officer and as Operations Officer until July 2011 when posted to National Defence Head Quarter Ottawa under Chief Maritime Staff / Directorate Maritime Infrastructure.

Michel has deployed twice to Alert, Golan Heights, Israel and in Afghanistan (Kabul and Kandahar). Michel has also participated on OP Hurricane in Florida and the Ice Storm.

Capt Michel Houle is retiring after 35 + years of dedicated and loyal service to the CF and Canadian Military Engineers. Michel was blessed by Jeanne who gave him two exceptional children, Maggy and Kenny. Michel and Jeanne are now grand-parents and plan to remain in the National Capital Region.