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 served 10 years as an Engineer Officer in the Army. After graduating from the Sapper Leader Couse, I held a variety of
leadership roles in combat engineering units. Specifically, I led a Route Clearance and Reconnaissance Platoon, was the
executive officer for a Sapper Company and commanded an Engineer Support Company. I was also the lead engineer advisor
on multiple staffs ranging from Brigade to Corps level units, including a joint staff. I was stationed at Joint Base Lewis-
McChord, Washington and Fort Campbell, Kentucky. I served one year in Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s
Sentinel and two months in Romania in support of the exercise Resolute Castle supporting Atlantic Resolve. The thing I value
most from my military service are the people I worked with. The tight-knit family that developed through shared hardships is
something I will always be thankful for and know that it is something I can always fall back on for the rest of my life.
What are your thoughts on mentoring other students while at Vanderbilt? As a role model, what values do you want to share?
I am extremely grateful and excited for the opportunity to mentor other students while at Vanderbilt. I hope to imbue values
of integrity, resilience and teamwork. The Army has taught me that nothing is certain and the ability to adapt to the everchanging
world while remaining positive is crucial to keep moving forward. It has also taught me that you can go much
further when you go with a team versus going it alone. Integrity drives the ability to make the hard decisions and to maintain
respect for yourself and for all people of different backgrounds.
While at Vanderbilt, what will be the focus of your studies and how do you plan to use this knowledge in your future career?
I plan to focus my studies on strategy and healthcare. I have a deep desire to continue serving the greater good in my future
careers. I plan to use these focuses and the general business acumen I’ll learn to get into healthcare or into non-profit work. I
will also use what I learn toward launching a medical device company that I am working on with my partners.
What would you tell other veterans about the Bass Military Scholars Program?
I would highly recommend the program to any veteran seeking their next steps outside of the military. It is a program that
embodies the values that we hold in high regard and gives an opportunity to continue service that is greater than ourselves.
It also helps close the military – civilian gap by allowing us to share our experiences with wider populations. I would also
share that it feels like stepping into another family that has your best interest at heart, which can be really encouraging when
making the transition into civilian life.