I am a Fairview native. I was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1964 and was 11 months old when my family moved to Cullman County. I grew up on my dad’s farm in Fairview, Alabama and graduated from Fairview High School in 1982. Upon graduation, I raised my right hand and volunteered to enlist in the United States Army. My plan in 1982 was to serve my Country then shortly return home, but God had other plans for me.
I am combat tested. I knew I had to stay in the Army to defend our Nation after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. During my 30-year career in the Army, I have a combined four and a half years of combat deployments in support of Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Resolute Support, and Advanced Force Operations in the Horn of Africa and Eastern Europe. Of note, my Special Operations Task Force was responsible for the hostage rescue of Captain Phillips, Maersk Alabama off the coast of Somalia.
I am a proven leader. I have held leadership and command positions in every rank from First Lieutenant to Colonel serving in Infantry, Airborne, Aviation and Special Operations Commands with duty in 18 countries over four continents. When I enlisted in 1982, a mentor pushed me to apply to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Upon graduation from USMA in 1988, I became an officer and commanded from the Platoon to the Brigade level.
My career highlights include commanding an AH-64 Apache Helicopter Battalion; then later, duty in the Joint Special Operations Command (Tier 1 – Special Mission Unit) and Commanding the Special Mission Wing (Mi17), Special Operations Aviation Task Force in Afghanistan.
I am a highly decorated veteran. My awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, five Bronze Stars, two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, and the Combat Air Medal. I am Airborne, Pathfinder, and Ranger qualified and have been awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Combat Action Badge, Senior Army Aviator Badge, and the Air Assault Badge. I am helicopter rated in the Huey, Cobra, Apache, Longbow and the Soviet Mi17 (LDO).
I am a proud husband and father. Me and my wife have been married for 33 years and moved back home to Cullman after I retired. We are very proud of our two children, Casey and Sean. Casey is married to Army Major Rob Beery and they are stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado; Sean is an Army Captain and Company Commander stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
I am committed to public service. Since returning home to Cullman, I am an active member of VFW post 2214 and serve on the Cullman Republican Executive Committee, the Cullman Veterans Park Board and on Chairman of the Board for the Veterans Hall of Fame.
After retirement, I partnered with the non-profit Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund to raise education scholarship funds for the children of our Fallen Service Members. I led Annual Endurance events, which included completing the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail, climbing Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and Mount Aconcagua in Argentina as well as completing the 70-mile Inca Trail in the Peruvian Andes – surpassing $175,000 raised for education scholarships.
I currently work for Redstone Technologies based out of Huntsville, Alabama as the Executive Director of International Programs supporting DoD aviation contracts worldwide.