BIO
I am a native of Erie, PA. and enlisted in the Navy in September 1988 after graduating from McDowell Senior High School. I attended Basic Training at Recruit Training Command, Orlando FL. After completion of Basic Training, I attended Photographer’s Mate “A” School and Aircrew Candidate School in Pensacola, FL. Other military schools I attended are Search, Evasion, Resistance and Escape, Video Production and Visual Information Managers Course.
While on active duty I attended Chaminade University of Hawaii, Prince George’s Community College and Central Texas College where I graduated with an Associate’s degree in General Studies in 1995 with a GPA of 3.43. I am currently a Senior attending Old Dominion University with a major in Communication and a concentration area of interest in Public Relations, Advocacy, & Persuasion.
My military commands included Patrol Squadron Four in Barbers Point Hawaii where I qualified as an Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist and Enlisted Naval Aircrew man while flying in combat missions in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. I was then selected for duty at the White House Communication Agency in Washington D.C. where I earned the Presidential Service Badge. My next assignment was at the Office of Naval Intelligence in Suitland, MD. and then Patrol Squadron Forty-Five in Jacksonville, FL. where I re-qualified as an Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist and deployed and flew in combat missions in support of Kosovo Operations. Upon completion of sea duty, I transferred to shore duty at the Defense Information School, Fort Meade, MD. for a three-year tour as an instructor. After completing Instructor Training School, I taught the Department of Defense Basic Photography Course for three years earning my Master Training Specialist designation. I reported aboard USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) in September 2004 and completed a deployment re-qualifying as an Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist and qualifying as an Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist. I qualified as Duty Operations Officer and Officer of the Deck while on the Iwo. I transferred to Naval Special Warfare in Little Creek, VA., where I was the LCPO of a 10-person combat camera cell in support of East coast SEAL teams. I deployed to Iraq with Seal Team FOUR and to Afghanistan with Seal Team TEN while earning my Expeditionary Combat Warfare pin and my Information Dominance Warfare pin. I also deployed to Haiti in support of Operation Unified Response to support humanitarian relief efforts after the earthquake. I reported to USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) and led 30 Sailors of the Media Department on a 10-month combat deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. I retired from active duty in September 2014 with 26 years of military service.
I joined Naval Information Forces (NAVIFOR) in Sept 2015 as a public affairs specialist. I support the commands mission of organization, manning, training, and equipping for all Naval Information capabilities.
My military awards include: Navy and Marine Corps Medal (heroism), Air Medal (two awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal (four awards), Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), Army Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (seven awards), Navy Good Conduct Medal (six awards), Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and various campaign and service medals and awards.
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