What inspired you to join the U.S. military?

Military service is a family tradition. My grandfather was in the Navy along with several family members who served in each of the branches.

What’s one highlight from your military career?

A significant career highlight for me was transiting the USS Stonewall Jackson SSBN634 through the Panama Canal as part of the ship's decommissioning cruise in 1994.

What led you to join NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries?

I moved to the Washington DC / Northern Virginia area in 2003 and joined the National Ocean Service (NOS) Chief Information Office Help Desk and supported NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries as the NOS Help Desk manager. Through my daily support of the sanctuaries office, I gained a deep appreciation for the mission, which aligned with my own personal interests of naval history and marine wildlife. I joined the national marine sanctuaries team when the position of IT manager was created, and I have been privileged to hold that title since 2008.

How did your military experience prepare you for a role at NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries?

The military prepares you to deal with multiple issues and make decisions with whatever information is available. Military training also teaches you to maintain composure no matter the situation. Once you have seen your ship either flooding or on fire, everything else is a pretty standard day at the office.

What would you like the public to know or understand about the contributions of veterans at NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries?

I would like the public to know that veterans make up a significant portion of the NOAA workforce and are always working on ways to deliver NOAA's products to enhance public safety.