Andy Bufalo was born and spent his early childhood on Long Island in New York, and from the very beginning had a "knack" for writing. While in his early teens his family moved to Florida, where his father worked on the Lunar Module for the Apollo Program at the Kennedy Space Center. Once that assignment was complete the family returned to New York, where Andy completed high school. Upon turning eighteen he joined the United States Marine Corps and attended boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina. He ended up serving 25 years in the Corps and retired in January of 2000. During his Marine Corps career Master Sergeant Bufalo served five tours in the Reconnaissance community, including assignments with 1st and 2nd Force Reconnaissance Companies. While there he served in billets as a Scout, Team Radio Operator, Team Leader, Platoon Sergeant, Radio Chief, and Communications Chief. He is also a graduate of the Marine Security Guard School, and has served as Detachment Commander at the American Embassies in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo and Canberra, Australia. MSgt Bufalo is a graduate of the Reconnaissance Indoctrination Program (RIP), Amphibious Reconnaissance School (ARS), Army Airborne School, Navy SCUBA School, Special Forces Military Freefall Parachutist School, Army Jungle Warfare Training Course, Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape training (SERE) and CSSP, among others. A big fan of the "sea stories" books of Major Gene "Dunk" Duncan, Andy realized he had a lot of of his own tales to tell and began writing them down while serving in the Congo. In 2003 he wrote his first book, "Swift, Silent & Surrounded," which is an anthology focusing on the Marine Corps Leadership Traits, and soon became a speaker and trainer focusing on leadership and management skills. Twelve other books have followed, and in 2006 Andy founded S&B Publishing and its imprint, All American Books, which have allowed him to mentor and assist many aspiring authors in achieving their dreams.