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 commissioned out of Missouri State University as an Army Aviation Officer in 2016 and flew Apache Helicopters for 8 years. I deployed with the 82nd Airborne with Task Force Wolfpack in 2021 in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) and commanded a flight company in 2 ID (Camp Humphreys, Korea) for 16 months. The most valuable part of my service was serving with great Americans every day and the purpose of the missions we accomplished together.
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 because many are the same age as the new Soldiers I served with as well as my little brother, Johnny, who is an undergraduate freshman at the University of Arkansas. I want to share the value of serving and being a part of something bigger than yourself. I look forward to sharing my experience because every Military experience is unique and the general population does not have access to learning about it. I think it will be cool to share my story with others.
While at Vanderbilt, what will be the focus of your studies and how do you plan to use this knowledge in your future career?
The current career paths I am pursuing are consulting, operations, finance, and real estate (still figuring it out). I eventually want to start my own real estate business in the Nashville and St. Louis areas.
What would you tell other veterans about the Bass Military Scholars Program?
The Bass Military Scholar’s Program is a great program that is more than just a scholarship. It is a great way to give back to the community with the skills, knowledge, and experience you already have. There is a great veteran network at Vanderbilt and around the Nashville area that works to resource your career and life as you transition to the civilian world.