I have always enjoyed building things. My father would get frustrated because I was always tearing apart flashlights to see first how they worked, and second how I could build them into something else.

When I received my nomination to West Point, I knew I would get the chance to earn an engineering degree from one of the best institutions in our country. What I did not anticipate was how much I would enjoy the act of service - and how that would drive me toward a lengthy and fulfilling career in service to our nation and our community.

Serving my country allowed me to work on building two more things: myself and the soldiers placed into my care. This led to an incredible career spanning more than two decades that allowed me to: gain an MBA at one of the best business schools in the country; serve as an assistant professor at West Point; help build a new military academy in Afghanistan; strengthen and improve the
National Police Force in Iraq; and finally, serve as the “Mayor of Fort Carson,” building, improving, and leading a community of 120,000 soldiers, Army civilians, retirees and their family members in Colorado Springs.

My service continued alongside incredibly humble, talented and forward-thinking teammates at Colorado Springs Utilities, who did the hard work in uncomfortable conditions so our community could have the best, most reliable utilities service for the lowest possible cost.

And now I get the honor to serve local businesses, nonprofits and families through my work at Edward Jones. Helping our neighbors meet their business, financial and personal goals and make our town one of the best
places in the world is an even more rewarding way to serve than I have ever experienced before.

And I still get to build things. Let's build your future together.