I grew up in Columbus, Ohio and graduated from Upper Arlington High School in 2000. I attended The Citadel, in Charleston, South Carolina my freshmen year of college and realized I wanted nothing to do with military school. I returned to Ohio and enrolled in Ohio University to pursue a degree in education; then the terrorist attacks of September 11th happened. That spring I enlisted in the Ohio Army National Guard and eventually would complete three deployments (Kosovo, Iraq, and humanitarian efforts after Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast) over my nine years in the Military. My wife and family reside in Toledo, Ohio and this past summer I have earned my Master's Degree in Educational Administration from Bowling Green State University. We love Northwest Ohio for the excellent outdoor recreational activities it has to offer and sense of community and pride not found in other parts of the state.