About me

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 I was born and raised in Georgia, mostly around the north side of Columbus and up into Harris County. 

I grew up playing baseball at Northern Little League, involved in scouting, and surrounded by a big family. 

My Poppy spent his entire adult life working as a lineman for Bell South, my mom is an ER nurse, and my dad is a small business owner and entrepreneur. 

I went to a private Christian school, and I didn’t get the best grades. But I did learn the values that shaped me: hard work, service, faith, and taking care of your neighbors. 

As a teenager, I spent my summers working as a lifeguard at the Shriners pool, which was my first real job and a place where I learned responsibility and how to look out for others. 

I spent most of my Army career as an Infantry NCO. I was promoted to Sergeant right around the time of 9/11 and went on to lead Soldiers in combat operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other less-publicized locations.

Over my 20 years of service, I was assigned to units at Fort Benning, GA; Fort Bragg, NC; Germany; South Korea; and Savannah, GA. I completed Airborne School, the Emergency Medical Technician Course, the Advanced Land Navigation Course at Camp Dawson, WV, and many other military schools. I also studied the Russian language at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.

My most meaningful recognitions include earning the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, and being awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

 I’m married, and my wife is a public school teacher. We have a blended family with her two sons and my son, along with three very spoiled canine fur babies. 

Our oldest just graduated from Heard County High School and completed U.S. Army Basic Training, and we couldn’t be more proud. 

Last year I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to help out the captain of Miss Sally, the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper’s floating classroom on West Point Lake. 

Working with him gave me the chance to help local kids learn about the river, the wildlife that depends on it, and how to help keep our natural resources healthy. 

It strengthened my appreciation for conservation and the responsibility we all share to protect the places we call home. 

 I ran my own small business as a local residential handyman. I know the old saying, roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty, and put in the sweat equity. That’s how I’ve always worked, and it’s how I’ll approach serving this community. 

 I have a B.A. in World Religions. I was motivated to study Christianity, Judaism, and Islam after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and spending time with people who were raised and taught very differently than I was. 

Studying the Abrahamic faith traditions helped me see how much common ground we actually share, and it taught me to focus on our shared values instead of our differences. 

 In 2021, I was involved in Allied Airlift 21, helping our Afghan partners flee the Taliban after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. 

Then, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022, I was on the ground helping mobilize food aid and deliver it to refugee centers supporting women and children escaping the war zone. 

Those experiences reminded me how fragile life can be and how important it is to step up and help people when they need it most. 

I want our children to inherit a vibrant and welcoming rural Georgia. 

A place where families can grow and small businesses can thrive.  

A rural Georgia with opportunity, security, and a real sense of community. 

If we work together, we can build a future that honors our roots while strengthening our opportunities. 

Will you join me?