My journey began in 1983 as an active-duty United States Marine Corps Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) — also known as Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) — Defense Specialist, a role that established the technical foundation and operational discipline that would define everything that followed. Over the course of a distinguished 20-year military career, I served in a range of stateside and overseas assignments, earned the rank of Chief Warrant Officer, and served as a Desert Storm Veteran. Each assignment deepened my expertise and reinforced the core values that continue to guide my professional practice today.

Committed to growth both in and out of uniform, I pursued rigorous academic development alongside my military service. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management in 2001 and a Master of Arts in Emergency and Disaster Management in 2007. I am currently advancing that academic foundation through doctoral studies in Global Security at American Military University — a reflection of my belief that effective leadership demands lifelong learning.

Following my honorable retirement from the Marine Corps in 2003, I transitioned into senior civilian roles that expanded my reach and impact across the full spectrum of emergency management. Through Joint Programs Executive Office and Headquarters Army and FEMA-level positions, I gained hands-on experience in force protection, exercise design and evaluation under the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP), Incident Command System (ICS), and the National Incident Management System (NIMS). I also contributed directly to two signature national programs — the Army's First Responders Emergency Program and the Joint U.S. Army/FEMA Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) — where strategic planning, interagency coordination, and community resilience were not just priorities, but imperatives.

What connects every chapter of this career is a simple conviction: preparedness saves lives, and the work of building resilient organizations and communities is never finished.