I joined the U.S. Navy just ten days after graduating from high school in Manton, Michigan, and began an incredible journey of discipline, perseverance, and achievement. While stationed in Memphis, Tennessee, I won the Novice Golden Gloves Championship in 1982. Shortly after, I transferred to Pensacola, Florida, where I trained under Roy Jones Sr. alongside his son, Roy Jones Jr., and fought 54 amateur bouts before pursuing my dream of becoming a Navy SEAL.
In January 1985, I entered BUD/S Class 133, successfully completing Hell Week before being sidelined by pneumonia during my 12th week of training. Determined to achieve my goal, I reapplied for BUD/S training seven times and was accepted into Class 141, graduating on February 20, 1987. I served with distinction in SEAL Team Four, deploying to the Persian Gulf in 1988 and Panama in 1989, where I participated in Operation Just Cause and earned recognition for valor.
From 1990 to 1993, I served as Air Operations Department Head in Panama, managing all air operations for Navy SEALs throughout Central and South America. My responsibilities included overseeing parachute rigging, static line and free-fall operations, cast master planning, fast rope and spy rig techniques, and equipment maintenance. Over my career, I participated in over 700 free-fall jumps. Following my deployment to South Korea in 1995 during a critical transition in leadership, I received an honorable discharge.
After leaving military service, I ventured into the private sector, excelling in sales and financial services. My journey began with self-education in debt management, which helped me eliminate my own debt and led to a role as a debt management consultant. In my first month, I broke company records and was promoted to manager in San Diego. I quickly transitioned into real estate and mortgage services, earning my California real estate license and later my broker’s license. From 2001 to 2006, I built a thriving business, averaging $200,000 annually and achieving $250,000 in commission in 2002 alone. I expanded into commercial lending before economic challenges in 2009 forced me to rebuild.
In 2011, I worked as an anti-piracy security agent and later entered the commercial drone industry, representing Modern Technology Solutions Inc. and promoting drone applications for surveying, precision agriculture, cinematography, and oil and gas exploration. I then transitioned into LED lighting, helping manufacturers establish distribution channels for new construction projects. My dedication to innovation brought me to the Rio Grande Valley, where I represented six companies owned by a retired Army Ranger Colonel.
From 2017 to 2022, I offered financial literacy workshops part-time while managing personal challenges, including the loss of my wife to cancer. Moving to Houston, Texas, I shifted to full-time financial services, leveraging my experience to help families and businesses achieve financial security. I’ve also developed apprenticeship pipelines for veterans and ex-felons in welding, pipefitting, and HVAC trades, creating sustainable employment opportunities.
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