Q+A Interview

Can you share a bit about your military background?

I served in the U.S. Army as a Signal Officer. My military journey began with my selection to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point. Following graduation and completion of Airborne School and Signal Basic Officer Leader Course (SBOLC), I was assigned to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in South Korea, leading a specialized satellite communications platoon on the front lines of global readiness. I was then stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, where I directed Division Telecommunications—overseeing mission-critical voice, data and satellite networks across the Pacific theater.

After completing my service as a Captain, I leveraged my background in tactical communications to transition into the commercial tech sector, moving to Silicon Valley to join Cisco to build commercial products for the US Federal market.

What is one valuable lesson, skill or core value from your time in the service that you still carry with you today?

The most enduring lesson from my time in the U.S. Army—first forged at West Point and refined as a platoon leader—is strategic time management through empowered leadership. Early on, I learned that true time management extends far beyond personal scheduling; it requires precise prioritizing of critical objectives and mobilizing a team to achieve them efficiently.

Tactical success rarely comes from a leader doing everything alone. Instead, it relies on defining high-priority goals, delegating effectively and trusting that your team is trained and inspired to execute. By fostering a culture of ownership and operational readiness, I learned to leverage collective strength to accomplish complex missions under pressure. Carrying this principle into MANTECH has been invaluable. Whether managing critical military platforms or leading strategic partnership strategy, prioritizing what matters most while trusting my team remains the single most vital skill I carry today.

What was the biggest culture shock or unexpected challenge you faced when entering the civilian workforce?

Trading military uniforms for civilian life brought one massive, unexpected ambush: my first paycheck. After years of non-taxable allowances, seeing taxes removed was a shock. Word to the wise for transitioning veterans: use an online salary calculator to determine your net pay to properly budget.

What does a typical day look like for you now, and what do you enjoy most about working for MANTECH?

A typical day at MANTECH centers on driving strategic vision, empowering teams, and advancing our clients’ missions. I start the week by aligning with my team to set weekly objectives and clear roadblocks. Throughout the day, I collaborate with key tech partners like AWS, Google and Salesforce on joint growth strategies, or jump on calls with account teams to solve complex client needs, such as refining DevSecOps for continuous monitoring. Mentorship is equally vital, so I often use my lunch to talk to people interested in future partnership roles. After lunch, I jump into our CEO’s meeting, which aligns executive leadership to ensure we are aggressively pushing mission-critical initiatives forward for our clients.

What I enjoy most about working for MANTECH is a dynamic blend of high-impact commercial technology, executive strategy, and mentorship. After wrapping up final calls, I break for a family dinner and head to the tennis courts for a 7:00 PM match.

What do you miss most about being in the military, and how do you find or replicate that sense of community/camaraderie in your civilian life?

What I miss most is the unshakeable bond forged with my fellow service members in high-stress environments—the kind of friendship where you can call someone after years apart and instantly pick up right where you left off. In civilian life, I replicate that sense of shared purpose and community by supporting military-focused organizations like the Alliance for Fort Gordon. Thanks to MANTECH’s generous sponsorship, this organization of community leaders supports our armed forces and hosts the nation’s largest free summer cyber camp—which provides free cyber training to over 1,200 students. I’m able to channel that same enduring passion for service into making a lasting impact.

What are you most passionate about?

I am deeply passionate about protecting our nation and defending our core freedoms. My goal is to rapidly place our strategic partners’ cutting-edge technology into the hands of our clients, ensuring they have the superior tools and experienced professional support required to achieve decisive, high-impact mission success.