[5] Prior to holding elected office, Vulakovich attended the Allegheny County Police Academy and Duquesne University.

[6] He served as a police sergeant with the Shaler Township Police Department, where he was known as "Officer V."[7] On April 11, 2006, Democrat Shawn Flaherty defeated Republican Mike Dolan in a special election to fill the remainder of Jeff Habay's term as state representative.

[8] On May 16, 2006, Vulakovich defeated two other Republicans (including Mike Dolan) for the right to challenge Flaherty in that November's election.

[10] Vulakovich resigned from the State House on August 29, 2012, just prior to taking the oath of office to begin his Senate service.

In 2012 he defeated former Congresswoman Melissa Hart in the primary, leading to Vulakovich being nominated by the Republican party to face Sharon Brown to fill the vacancy in Pennsylvania's 40th State Senate district created by the resignation of Jane Orie.