Randy
Petronko

Meet Randy Petronko

Randy Petronko enlisted in the U.S. Navy while in high school, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, who served with the 11th Amphibious Force and came ashore at Omaha Beach during the Normandy D-Day invasion. He left for boot camp on September 28, 2001, just weeks after the September 11 attacks, and served until 2006.

As an Aviation Ordnanceman aboard the USS Tarawa (LHA-1), Randy deployed to the Persian Gulf in 2003 in support of Operation Southern Watch. The deployment transitioned into Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF). He attained the rank of Petty Officer Third Class, earned EAWS and ESWS designations, and was among eleven sailors selected for the Navy’s Special Response Team pilot program.

Randy was diagnosed with bone cancer and left the Navy in 2006. As a disabled veteran, he experienced the challenges of transitioning to civilian life and navigating the Department of Veterans Affairs, including periods of homelessness. His experiences drove his commitment to public service and advocacy for other veterans.

Using his GI Bill, Randy attended Raritan Valley Community College, graduating with a 4.0 GPA and serving as commencement speaker. He earned a public policy degree with honors from Rutgers University’s Bloustein School, then attended Rutgers Law School. He studied abroad in Tokyo through Temple University’s law program, backpacked across Southeast Asia, and graduated in May 2025.

Randy joined Morgan & Morgan as an intern in 2024, drawn in part by the firm’s Veterans Legal Group. When offered a position after graduation, he specifically requested to join the department.

Randy is a member of The Florida Bar and an accredited VA attorney representing veterans before the VA. One of his life goals is to improve VA policies that prevent veterans from receiving the benefits they have earned.

Randy lives in Jacksonville, Florida, with his rescue dog, Bunsen. He enjoys traveling, reading, anime, video games, and shooting.