I grew up near Tallahassee, FL and my family loved spending time outdoors camping, hunting, and fishing. I joined the US Army at the age of 19 and continued serving as a Fire Control Specialist for 20 years. My love of the outdoors never faded and I try to escape to the woods as often as I can to backpack or just spend some solitude to recharge. Upon my retirement from the Army, I enrolled in college to pursue a degree in outdoor recreation and completed my BS in Outdoor Recreation Studies in May of 2023. I am married to my wonderful wife, Michelle, for almost 17 years and we have three beautiful daughters and instill in them the same passion for the outdoors. We enjoy adventuring as a family and have visited 28 of the US National Parks
I decided to become a Mt. Adams Institute AmeriCorps Intern because I have a passion for the outdoors and preserving it for our future generations. I have a passion for public service and educating the public on ways to recreate safely and preserve the naturally wild areas for years to come. I hope to gain from my internship a glimpse into the USFS to see if it is a fit for me to continue my service to this great country that we get to call home. I would also like to learn some skills in trail maintenance and the ins and outs of the USFS permitting system.