What schools did you attend? What year did you graduate?
I attended Edmonson Elementary, John Page Middle, and graduated from Lamphere High School in 2000.
Where do you live now? Sinking Spring, PA (about an hour or so west of Philadelphia)
Tell us about what you've been doing since graduation:
After graduation in 2000, I was fortunate enough to receive an appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. After four years of studying and training, I was commissioned as a Naval officer and reported to flight school in Pensacola, FL. I flew onboard P-3C "Orion" aircraft that hunt submarines and conduct intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance missions in overland and maritime environments. After my flying tour in Hawaii (tough life, but somebody had to do it!), I went back to Annapolis and USNA to teach, train, and develop the next set of leaders to join the fleet. Following that, I became a catapult launching officer and flight deck division officer onboard the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier, leading a division of 150 Sailors and being responsible for "shooting" aircraft off the deck. After a short stint in graduate school, I left active duty in April 2016, but remain in the Navy Reserves, working with a submarine unit as an Operations officer and airborne anti-submarine warfare subject matter expert. All told, I made four (4) separate deployments in support of operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Central America, visited a dozen or more countries, and led hundreds of individuals from various walks of life. The Navy was everything I could have dreamed of and more, and I could not have done it without going to the Naval Academy...and I never would have made it that far without the extraordinary support I received as a student at LHS!
Today, I work as a Project Manager for Godiva Chocolatier, the world's premier luxury chocolate brand. I work in Information Services/Technology (what we know as IT), and have been able to lead some incredible initiatives and teams from all over the world. I also intend on starting work towards my MBA in the next year or so, but have not yet settled on a school, though the field is thinning.
Tell us about your family and/or hobbies:
Beyond everything I've been so fortunate to achieve and do, I met my incredible wife, Heather, in Jacksonville, FL during flight training. We have been married for just over seven years now, and are now the proud parents of four-year old twins (Daniel and Annabelle).
As far as hobbies go--when I have time away from raising my kids--I still am a sports nut and follow all of the local Detroit teams. I recently decided to start researching issues in the local political realm and intend on starting a blog as a cathartic means to voice my own opinion and explore other avenues of service to my new community. I try to stay active in the lives of local veterans as a member of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of American (IAVA) and other local organizations. And, of course, I give back to the Naval Academy as a Blue and Gold Officer, acting as a liaison between potential candidates and the Admissions department.
How did your years at Lamphere affect your life?
Four years at LHS taught me responsibility, resilience, and morality: all items sorely needed in today's dynamic and (at times) chaotic society. In short, Lamphere High School got me ready for the world by giving me the tools to handle and cope, and I am grateful for that every day as a leader, husband, and father.
I had great friends, many of whom I learned a great deal, and some I still keep in touch with. Their friendships taught me a great deal about relationships and interpersonal conflict resolution, and I am truly thankful for every interaction I had with these incredible individuals who are doing (and have done) amazing things in the world. To any of you who read this: it is my sincerest hope that if I have lost touch with you, reach out. You all meant a great deal to me.
However, and above all, I had great mentors, teachers, coaches, and administrators around me dedicated on my successes as a student and a developing young adult. Without all of them, I would never been able to get into my dream school, live an incredible dozen years of service, and have the family I always wanted. To those who supported me and gave me the motivation to strive for nothing less than my best, I can't thank you enough for every kind word, kick in the rear, and everything in between. My friends made me who I was, but you all made me who I have become.
If you had a message for current Lamphere students what would it be?
Without sounding terribly negative, here's a "do," a "don't," and an ultimatum that have all served me well since graduating from LHS:
"Don't" be afraid of failure or rejection. If you want something, go for it! The worst that happens is you are told "no"--but that doesn't mean "no" forever in most cases! Keep pushing, and don't settle! You don't learn anything from massive amounts of success and easy-going. As the great boxer Mike Tyson once said, "Everyone has a plan...until they get punched in the face." Come to grips with this now: you will fail at something, you will feel hurt, and it will seem like the end of it all. It's how you react to that failure or shortcoming that defines your character. I have failed more times that I can count, but I always tried to keep moving forward...even when I didn't want to.
"Do" keep an open yet critical mind. You will be disagreed with. You will be contradicted openly. You will argue, debate, and negotiate opinions with those who just don't see it your way. Don't stop there: learn from it! Ask yourself "why" or "why not" and put yourself in someone else's shoes. Think their position through, and then see if you missed something. You might even change your own opinion about whatever it was you became so impassioned about. Nobody has the completely right answer in matters regarding ideals, beliefs, and opinions. But nobody is completely wrong either. Listen, learn, think, then re-evaluate.
Lastly, ask for help or support when you need it. DO NOT suffer in silence. Too many people today are too proud or stubborn to even ask. That attitude leads to problems with stress and other more significant issues. People care, and people want to help. But, you have to be courageous enough to open up and seek help. Trust me, I have this issue almost every day, and since I've started being more accepting of assistance and feedback, life becomes much easier to handle.