I was raised in a suburb of Pittsburgh, the youngest of three. Our household was lower-middle socio-economically, however, my parents never let me lose sight of the idea that if I tried my best and I got a good education, I could be anything I wanted to be. This idea lead me to graduation from Gettysburg College, then pursuing a commission in the U.S. Navy — graduating with distinction from Officer Candidate School, and eventually to earning a Masters degree from the Naval War College.

My 23 year career in the United States Navy, culminating in promotion to Captain, grounded me in a career of public service. After tours as a Missile Maintenance Officer, Manpower analyst, Network Warfare program manager, Commanding Officer assignments, and Congressional Liaison I retired from the Navy. My retirement was to assume the Senate-confirmed Presidential appointment as Assistant Secretary at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

As Assistant Secretary, I was the Department’s lead advocate on Capitol Hill for our nation’s 25 million veterans and their families, protecting and improving their benefits. Most recently I served as the Director of Veterans Services for Allegheny County.

A career in public service, at the federal and local level, make me uniquely qualified to serve in Harrisburg. My life and my career have been dedicated to these pursuits and I am ready to work for people across our district. I’m tested — I was a Captain in the Navy, and I was confirmed by our friends across the aisle to be Assistant Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. I am ready to hit the ground running on day one as your State Senator. I will bring dignity, independence, and our shared values to Harrisburg because I believe deeply that this is what our families deserve.