08/07/2026
From small-town Kansas to the world and back again. āļø
People often ask why I joined the Air Force. For me, the answer starts right here in Kansas. Growing up as an Army kid, I spent time all over, but my roots are in places like Manhattan, Colby, and Turon. After high school, I spent two years in the food industry, making $7.25 an hour and realizing it wasn't enough to build a future or support a family.
I needed a change. I walked into a recruiter's office looking for a stable career and walked out with an opportunity I never thought possibleāa chance to work with our nation's most powerful weapon systems.
That single decision launched a journey that has lasted over 14 years. It took me from Basic Training, to tech school at what is now Vandenberg Space Force Base, and then to Minot, North Dakota, for over a decade. In that time, I didn't just have a job; I built a career. I promoted from a hands-on technician to a Security Manager, and eventually to a Maintenance Production Superintendent, leading teams responsible for a critical global mission.
Now, after all that adventure and growth, the Air Force has brought me full circleāright back home to Kansas, to help other young Kansans write their own story.
Your journey might not look exactly like mine, but the opportunity is the same. If you're looking for a path forward, let's talk.