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Behind the Scenes at Fed to Freedom

Site updates, writing process, book projects, announcements.

When the title disappears, the silence hits different

When the title disappears, the silence hits different

When You Finally Exit the Machine

That’s the part nobody prepares you for — the speed of irrelevance. You reach out to check in, and people are busy. You were once on speed dial — now you’re on the “get back when I can” list. It’s not personal, but it feels personal. You see how fast you’re replaced, and it stings. All those years, all that effort, and the second you turn in your laptop and ID card, that door doesn’t close softly — it slams.

Mindful Living & Personal Growth

Nov 75 min read

Resilience, Relevance, and Reinvention: Thriving When Life Hits Pause

Resilience, Relevance, and Reinvention: Thriving When Life Hits Pause

Resilience, Relevance, and Reinvention: Thriving When Life Hits Pause

Shutdowns, layoffs, realignments — they all feel the same when your world suddenly stops spinning. But the truth is, you can’t control the storm; you can control your posture in it. Here’s how to use disruption as a catalyst for reflection, reinvention, and resilience.

Behind the Scenes at Fed to Freedom

Nov 14 min read

The Second Half: A Mid-Career Reckoning

The Second Half: A Mid-Career Reckoning

Rethinking the Next Chapter: Mid-Career and Beyond

Mid-career isn’t the end—it’s the pivot point. This is the time to reflect, realign, and choose what the second half of your life will look like with purpose and clarity.

Life After the Fed

Oct 185 min read

Career planning

Career planning

Planning Your Career Around Your Life (Before It Plans Life for You)

If you don’t plan your career around your life, your career will plan your life for you. Here’s a practical early-career framework: five-year bites, honest trade-offs, and skills that keep pace with the market.

Conversations & Everyday Stories

Oct 25 min read

My progression, Soldier, worker, executive, now retiree

My progression, Soldier, worker, executive, now retiree

Retirements bittersweet closure.

From soldier to machinist to Deputy Assistant Secretary — today I close out a 40-year journey of service. My career has taken me from the fall of the Berlin Wall to the halls of Congress, but the real story has always been about the people I served alongside.

Conversations & Everyday Stories

Oct 14 min read

A good cover letter doesn’t rehash your entire resume.

A good cover letter doesn’t rehash your entire resume.

Cover Letters: Stop Writing Snooze Notes!

A good cover letter doesn’t rehash your entire resume. It connects the dots between you and their problem. Think of it as your 30-second elevator pitch in written form.

Life After the Fed

Sep 155 min read

Where's the beef in your resume?

Where's the beef in your resume?

Bullets vs Narratives: Building a Resume That Actually Works

“I’ve been on both sides of the hiring table. I’ve scanned thousands of resumes, hired well over 200 people across government and private sectors, and here’s what I can tell you: the format matters less than the story you’re telling.”

Behind the Scenes at Fed to Freedom

Sep 107 min read

The Secret Sauce Behind Every Strong Interview Answer

The Secret Sauce Behind Every Strong Interview Answer

Interview Like a Pro: The Storytelling Method That Gets You Hired

Now it’s time to peel back the curtain on the “tools” every hiring manager, HR rep, or panelist wants you to unknowingly use. You’ll hear a lot of alphabet soup: STAR, CCAR, PAR. Here’s the deal: Different letters. Same central "We want to know what the issue was, what YOU did, and what the results were".

Behind the Scenes at Fed to Freedom

Sep 26 min read

How to be prepared for the inevitable interview questions.

How to be prepared for the inevitable interview questions.

Questions You’ll Always Be Asked — and How to Answer Them Without Rambling

Tips for be prepared for job interviews.

Behind the Scenes at Fed to Freedom

Aug 265 min read

First Impressions when interviewing

First Impressions when interviewing

The 90-Second Test: Nailing First Impressions when interviewing

“Every interview has a silent clock. You’ve got 90 seconds to win the room — or spend the rest of the hour trying to climb out of a hole.” Whether we like it or not, every interview starts with a silent clock. Within the first minute and a half, the panel has already decided if you look like someone they want to hire — or someone they want to move past.

Life After the Fed

Aug 255 min read

Help from the people that matter

Help from the people that matter

33 Responses, 1 Launch:

Before I officially step into retirement this October, I asked a question. One word. That’s all I wanted—to complete a three-word description that’s been rolling around in my soon-to-be post-retirement head.

Conversations & Everyday Stories

Aug 83 min read

Practical Field Notes on Early Retirement, Separation Incentives, and Not Screwing It Up

Practical Field Notes on Early Retirement, Separation Incentives, and Not Screwing It Up

"So You're Leaving the Mothership?" – A Survival Guide for the Federally Fatigued

Retiring from federal service is less like walking off into the sunset and more like escaping a bureaucracy-shaped labyrinth — armed only with acronyms, signature forms, and a well-worn PIV/CAC card.

Behind the Scenes at Fed to Freedom

Aug 15 min read

Mike and Me. RADM Mike Johnstons retirement.

Mike and Me. RADM Mike Johnstons retirement.

“Off the Clock, Still on the Mark: A Farewell to RADM Johnston”

On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, I traveled from Washington, D.C. to New London, Connecticut to witness a milestone in the life of a friend, colleague, and one of the finest leaders I’ve ever worked alongside—Rear Admiral Mike Johnston.

Behind the Scenes at Fed to Freedom

Jul 223 min read

The Quote That Outran Me: A Government Training Surprise

The Quote That Outran Me: A Government Training Surprise

The Quote That Outran Me: A Government Training Surprise

There’s something strange—and a little surreal—about hearing your own words quoted back to you a decade later. Especially when you didn’t...

Behind the Scenes at Fed to Freedom

Jul 192 min read

"Man drinking coffee in a workshop, reflecting on dark roast coffee."

"Man drinking coffee in a workshop, reflecting on dark roast coffee."

Coffee Bean Battle: Rediscovering the Dark Roast Coffee That Both Saved and Cursed Me!

"I thought I escaped coffee… until the dark roast pulled me back in. A story of Army nights, hard work, and one powerful cup."

Spiritual Roots & Ancient Curiositi

Jul 194 min read

Off the Clock, On the Mark™ – Why I Left, What I’m Building, and Why You’re Invited

Off the Clock, On the Mark™ – Why I Left, What I’m Building, and Why You’re Invited

Off the Clock, On the Mark™ – Why I Left, What I’m Building, and Why You’re Invited

In case nobody told you today: It’s okay to want more. More time. More peace. More you. If you're still setting alarms just to sit in traffic, answering emails that should’ve never been sent, or nodding through meetings that suck the marrow out of your bones — you’re not broken. You’re awake. And you’re not alone.

Behind the Scenes at Fed to Freedom

Jul 163 min read

Exploring Personal Growth as a Federal Employee: Your Path to Freedom:

Exploring Personal Growth as a Federal Employee: Your Path to Freedom:

Exploring Personal Growth as a Federal Employee: Your Path to Freedom:

A real, honest look at growing inside federal service—how to reclaim your identity, build momentum, and grow past the system instead of getting trapped in it.

Behind the Scenes at Fed to Freedom

Jul 154 min read

Navigating Federal Employment: Your Growth Map Inside the System

Navigating Federal Employment: Your Growth Map Inside the System

Navigating Federal Employment: Your Growth Map Inside the System

Getting into federal service isn’t easy — and once you're in, it’s tempting to breathe, sit back, and settle. Job security. Good benefits. A predictable pace. But that’s also the danger: predictability can become stagnation.

Behind the Scenes at Fed to Freedom

Jul 154 min read

From Federal Desk Job to Freedom: A Career Transformation

From Federal Desk Job to Freedom: A Career Transformation

From Federal Desk Job to Freedom: A Career Transformation

In a world where people feel trapped by their jobs — chained to their desks, restrained by the golden handcuffs of stability and benefits — the idea of breaking free can seem like a fantasy.

Behind the Scenes at Fed to Freedom

Jul 156 min read

🦅 Welcome to Fed to Freedom

This is where my next chapter begins—and maybe yours, too.

✍️ Writing My Story

After years in federal service, I’m building something new. Fed to Freedom is part journal, part resource hub, part blueprint for reinvention. Whether you're a retiree, still in the grind, or dreaming of what's next—you’re in the right place.

📰 The Blog

Read. Laugh. Think. Repeat.

🔗 Resources & Links

Looking for help transitioning out of federal service?
I’ve curated guides, official links, and must-know content:

OPM tools
SES & ECQ guidance
Acquisition, FAR/DFAR resources

🤝 Services

Need help with your ECQs, resume, interviewing skills. or just want to talk shop?

I offer:

Writing & editing support
SES coaching & federal consulting
Speaking or collaboration for events

🎯 Join the Journey

No hype. No hustle. Just honest stories, shared lessons, and real work.
Follow along as I figure out what freedom looks like—one cup of coffee, one story, and one step at a time.

✨ Blog Read Me

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