Tell us about your military service. What did you do? Where did you serve? What do you value the most about your military service?
I graduated from West Point in 2015 and was commissioned as an infantry officer before completing the Special Forces Qualification Course and serving with 5th Special Forces Group. I deployed to Iraq and Syria during my career and most value the lifelong friendships, shared purpose, and enduring brotherhood forged in service.
What are your thoughts on mentoring other students while at Vanderbilt? As a role model, what values do you want to share?
I am excited to join such a talented cohort and community at Vanderbilt and continue growing alongside my colleagues, because the impact is certainly a two-way street. I hope to leave my classmates with a positive perspective of working with veterans, and to encourage them, as future industry leaders, to seek out and hire veterans for veterans’ proven leadership, grit, and perseverance in complex environments. Most importantly, I want to share the value of trust that veterans bring, ensuring the mission at hand is always accomplished.
While at Vanderbilt, what will be the focus of your studies and how do you plan to use this knowledge in your future career?
At Vanderbilt, I am pursuing my MBA with a concentration in Human and Organizational Performance. After graduation, I plan to pursue entrepreneurship through the acquisition of small businesses in the Nashville area. After a decade of leading teams in the military, combined with the business acumen I gain at Vanderbilt, I will be equipped with the tools necessary to succeed in this path. In doing so, I hope to create well-paying opportunities for transitioning veterans, supporting their move into careers that bring peace, contentment, and balance.
What would you tell other veterans about the Bass Military Scholars Program?
I tell every veteran pursuing education after their transition about the Bass Military Scholars Program because it provides invaluable support from Service to School and beyond. The program brings together veterans from all branches, recreating the sense of brotherhood and family once found in uniform and carrying it forward into the academic setting. We are bonded by a shared mission: to serve/mentor/lead within our community, earn an exceptional education, and support one another through the journey and beyond. For me, the opportunity to pursue education after the military, while raising a family, would not have been possible without the Bass Military Scholars Program.
Beyond your role as a Bass Military Scholar and Vanderbilt student, in what ways do you give back, support others, and engage with your community?
- Volunteer Board Member, Senator Bill Hagerty’s Service Academy Nomination Committee (2024, 2025)
- Co-Chair for Donovan & Bank Foundation‘s Nashville Chapter