Born and raised in Port Richey, Florida, I joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 2010.   In the 4.5 years of service I was stationed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Yorktown, Virginia and Oregon. I enjoyed this experience especially all I’ve learned and the people I’ve met along the way. While in Virginia training for my Damage Controlman rating, I was given the opportunity to be stationed in the Northwest. It was an area I hadn’t visited, but always hoped to. After a long cross country trip I landed in Oregon and instantly fell in love with the lush green state. It appealed to each of my senses and I knew I was in my element and wanted to continue working in this beautiful environment.

While serving in Florence, Oregon, I began working on a B.S. in Environmental Science. I am still deciding on a focus of Fish and Wildlife, sustainability or something else and hope that through this VetsWork internship with the Forest Service I will narrow down a career path that satisfies and excites me.

I will be working as a Conservation Education and Wilderness Assistant in the Umatilla National Forest. I am thrilled to share the natural world with a younger, technology driven generation. I hope to educate and engage everybody I come into contact with and feel truly blessed to have this opportunity with the VetsWork AmeriCorps program.

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