Di & I
This photo is of my sister Diana and me at her promotion ceremony. We were raised by our father, a retired Army veteran, who instilled in us a deep sense of service. Over time, I’ve come to deeply value faith and family and the strength they provide through life’s challenges.
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Graduation
This photo was taken when I graduated from my Officer Basic Course in the Army. While the training itself wasn’t physically difficult, life’s challenges during that time brought us closer together and built lasting friendships and memories.
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Kosovo
While stationed in Naples, Italy as a HUMINT officer, I was deployed to Kosovo during its declaration of independence. I had the opportunity to fly in a Czech Mi-16 helicopter to provide overwatch—an unforgettable experience during a historic moment.
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Ruck march
Ruck marches were one of the toughest parts of Army training for me. During one march when I fell far behind, two fellow officer candidates came back to walk with me to the finish—reminding me that we’re rarely as alone as we think.
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Training
In 2010, I completed the Bataan Memorial Death March with my coworker Karen Gibbs. Along the way we encouraged two soldiers who wanted to quit to keep going, and the four of us crossed the finish line together.