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 began my military career as an infantry officer with 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY, deploying to Cameroon and Ghana before completing Special Forces Assessment and Selection. After earning my Green Beret, I returned to Fort Campbell to serve with 5th Special Forces Group, deploying twice to Syria and serving twice in Tajikistan. Above all, I value the privilege of serving my nation at the highest level alongside the most exceptional individuals I have ever known.
What are your thoughts on mentoring other students while at Vanderbilt? As a role model, what values do you want to share?
Mentoring my peers is a privilege I value every day. While my military career has brought successes, setbacks, and lessons learned across multiple continents, I recognize that my peers’ experiences are equally valuable. By combining my insights with their perspectives, I can help shape creative strategies and solutions to address their current challenges. As a role model, I hope I can share the values of perseverance and professionalism in the face of adversity.
While at Vanderbilt, what will be the focus of your studies and how do you plan to use this knowledge in your future career?
While at Vanderbilt, I plan to focus my studies on strategy and operations to strengthen my capabilities within my current organization. Additionally, I intend to study economics to deepen my understanding of macroeconomic forces and the complex, interconnected world in which we operate.
What would you tell other veterans about the Bass Military Scholars Program?
The Bass Military Scholars Program offers an incredible opportunity for service members to give back to the community. During my military career, training, deployments, and schooling often kept me from engaging locally. This scholarship has given me the chance to support the very people who stood by my family and community while I was away serving.