I was born in Michigan and lived there until I joined the Army in 1995. I enlisted after learning that the Army was going to let me play with explosives! Which is funny considering prior to Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) training, the most dangerous thing I had ever seen, let alone played with, was a sparkler. I served 7 Honorable years as an EOD Technician and attained the rank of E-6. I spent the next decade traveling the globe ridding the world of unexploded ordnance. As a civilian contractor I spent a year in Iraq, a year in Puerto Rico and 6 months in Guam. I also took numerous contracts here in the US. While looking for employment between contracts, I went to Operation Stand Down TN (a non-profit Veterans service organization here in Nashville) and was asked to interview for a current job opening. I was hired to work in the Homeless Prevention Rapid Rehousing Program (HPRP), which is the precursor to the Supportive Services for Veterans and Families (SSVF) grant which the VA funds today. In 2014, I became the Veterans Service Officer for Davidson County.