Background
I grew up in Maine and relocated to Hampton Roads, Virginia to attend Old Dominion University where I majored in Criminal Justice while also completing the Army ROTC program. After graduating and commissioning as an Army National Guard officer in 2014, I began working in law enforcement the following year.

After a couple years working at the Norfolk Sheriff’s office and a brief stint at Hampton Police Division, I decided I wanted to do something I was more interested in. In 2018 while still working at the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office and completing my National Guard drill weekends, I was offered an opportunity to get free IT training through the Guard. I took advantage and ended up getting my Security + certificate in the Fall of 2018. Utilizing this, I was able to get a job working help desk for the Navy in 2019 where I worked for about a year and a half before moving to a new position working with the Navy in early 2021 still as a contractor. After a few years of this and feeling like I hit a lull, I decided I wanted to pursue my education in this field in order to set myself up for future opportunities. That’s where I am now, in the first semester of this graduate program.

Interests
Most of my free time is spent hanging with my kids, going to the gym, or playing video games. I particularly like spending time with my kids outdoors especially around the pool in the summer or going on trips with them. I also enjoy going to EDM shows / festivals and visiting the plethora of breweries in Hampton Roads. I’m probably biased but I think Chesapeake has the best ones.

Goals
Right now my main goal is to just keep learning new things by completing these courses and I think that will point me in the right direction for what I want to do for my next job. I love where I’m at now but know that it might not be there forever (especially as a contractor). I think I could take a role as an ISSM / ISSO next or possibly a Systems Administrator position first.