Retirements bittersweet closure.

Today I close out a chapter, one several decades in the making!

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Beginnings:

I began in the 1980's as an enlisted E1 (Private) in the United States Army, serving in the Field Artillery. 13 Bravo, Red legs they called us.

It was a way to get out of small town Mid-West America and see a little of the world, go to college, and start a career.

See the world I did and start a career it did.

I stood watch in Germany as the Berlin Wall fell, the borders opened up, and the great enemy that we had guarded against for decades collapsed and German reunification began.

I served through the first Gulf War "Desert Storm". Along the way many memories were made. I met so many amazing people from all walks of life, and from all over the world. Individuals who opened the aperture of what their life in other places, and with their cultures was truly like, leaving a lasting impact on me.

For the better, for sure!

After leaving the Army, I spent 8 years in the private sector in management, meeting some great people and doing very interesting work, building the business, and making the company I worked for successful, and a lot of money.

It was interesting and a great experience, but in my heart, it was not work I felt was important, or fulfilling.

A new calling:

That calling for something important, and fulfilling, called me back to public service.

I started from the proverbial beginning at Rock Island Arsenal — not as an executive, but as a wage grade worker. A legacy I am still very proud of.

At the Rock Island Arsenal, I entered a 4-year machinist apprenticeship and learned what it meant to truly build, to create, to work hard making products that matter. The work we did there meant the difference between life and death to the men and women in uniform.

From there I rose into the GS system, starting as a GS-5 Production Controller, and worked my way through every grade, through many organizations, many challenges, and many places.

I kept taking on new challenges, ones that mattered to the service, and nation. Each challenge propelled me to larger challenges. The work kept getting harder, and the level of responsibility kept increasing until I reached the top of the GS scale as a GS15.

That is a steep climb indeed.

Along the way, I lived in many states, traveled the world, and met more extraordinary people than I can count.

I’ve sat in the halls of Congress giving testimony, worked in the hallowed halls of the Pentagon, and led teams from a handful to a cast of a thousand.

I’ve supported our men and women in uniform at the height of several wars and decades of armed conflict around the globe.

After the Pentagon, I took on a new challenge protecting people here at home and helped usher in tobacco regulation at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Building out a new FDA Center for the first time in decades.

A monumental task.

But the military structure is in my blood, and it kept calling me back.

I soon seized the opportunity to support the United States Coast Guard in their largest modernization since WWII. I oversaw the rebuilding of the fleet and bases for the Coast Guard around the world, managing billions in acquisitions.

From there I moved on to oversee homeland security programs protecting against radiological, nuclear, chemical, and biological threats.

Provided critical support to DHS wide acquisition, then served as an executive providing oversight for Joint Requirements across DHS, as well as serving in many other critical roles along the way.

Farewell:

I worked very hard and was promoted to the Senior Executive Service (SES).

Becoming an SES, being a Deputy Assistant Secretary was the culmination of what has been an amazing career, and journey.

And quite frankly so much further than I had imagined I would go.

But here’s the truth: none of those accomplishments were mine alone.

Every success was built on the dedication, creativity, and grit of the teams I had the privilege to lead and support.

My first love was service to the country, but my second was service to those people — the engineers, operators, program managers, policy experts, and frontline staff who made the work real.

It was my greatest joy to serve them, to fight for the resources they needed, to clear obstacles, and to give them space to succeed.

I was blessed with mentors who invested in me, colleagues who challenged me, and staff who inspired me every single day.

When I think back, the awards and titles fade, but the people remain — their faces, their laughter, their talent, their commitment. That’s what I’ll carry forward with pride.

No one makes it alone, and I would be remiss to not acknowledge the love, and unwavering support of that other staff that has meant so much to me.

My family! Without them, there were trials and obstacles I am not sure I could have overcome.

They were the unseen foundation of any success that I can claim.

From soldier, to machinist, to Deputy Assistant Secretary.

A career that was built step by step, rung by rung, with plenty of scars, laughter, and lessons along the way.

I close this chapter with more gratitude than any Blog post can hope to articulate.

Gratitude for the chance to serve in so many different ways, and gratitude for the people who stood shoulder to shoulder with me, through storms and successes alike.

It’s been an amazing ride. And now it’s time for the next chapter.

Keep up with the next chapter here: Fedtofreedom.org

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