Steve was born and raised in the Upper Peninsula as the son of a gun shop owner, graduating from Iron Mountain High School in 1983. He is a former US Army Infantry Sergeant and the Honor Graduate of the 20th Infantry Regiment Bradley Crewman Course and the III Corps Unit Armorer Course. Steve is the recipient of the State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship and graduated from Michigan State University in 1991 with majors in International Studies and Multidisciplinary Social Science, and attended the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing on a full honors scholarship, where he earned an American Jurisprudence Award in Ethics and Professional Responsibility.
Steve is a member of the Phi Alpha Delta co-ed law fraternity and was president of his law school chapter. During law school, he managed student apartment buildings in East Lansing and taught test-prep classes for the industry-leading company. Steve has also served as an adjunct professor at Baker University and Cleary University, as well as a guest lecturer at several other colleges and universities.
Steve is a member of The American Legion & Mensa, and is a Life Member of the National Rifle Association, Safari Club International, Michigan Rifle and Pistol Association and USO Sponsoring Member as well as a Director of the Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners. Last summer, Steve became one of the first 40 Military Rifle Instructors certified by the Civilian Marksmanship Program and, in that capacity, serves as a volunteer trainer of Squad Designated Marksmen in Infantry units preparing to deploy to combat overseas.