My Mission

Ask any military member how we came to serve and you’ll get a story. Undoubtedly, our anecdotes will begin by recalling our childhood. We’ll share how we grew up, important influences, and maybe even a couple key events that helped us to our future calling. We’ll continue by sharing some “war stories” since joining and may even describe how what we do contributes to the mission. While each story may have similar elements, all are unique and this one’s mine.

Like many service members, my story begins with my family. Born and raised in Rochester, New York, I had little to do with the military as a child. Though my parents’ families shared a rich tradition of military service to include my father’s eight years of service to the United States Marine Corps before I was born; I had absolutely no exposure besides these links. In fact, even now, only scarcely could I relate to anyone much of their military careers beyond service branch, job, and the major conflicts they served through. However, the spirit of their service permeated into every aspect of my life growing up. My father’s time I the Marine’s was well spent as he raised us with a fierce devotion to discipline, standards and respect. He instilled in us a sense of duty with an inherent expectation to help out around the house, maintain good grades, stay physically fit, and participate in extracurricular activities. He chose to stay involved in our activities either through coaching, Cub & Boy Scout leading or just participating. My mother, an accomplished teacher, was the primary home maker and just as supportive. My parents’ sense of service affected me greatly and led me to get involved in coaching, youth mentoring programs and school service organizations. The more involved...

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...es fly, keep our networks running and fuel the jets on the runway. Finally we deliver a comprehensive fitness mission capable of sustaining our force keeping them fit to fight. Each of these mission sets represent basic needs both at home and in a deployed environment. Indirectly our services affect retention of Air Force families, as it’s commonly understood “while we recruit the member, we retain the family.” From childcare, to youth programs, bowling alleys or golf courses; our job is to help the military family feel welcome and cared for while their loved one is selflessly serving their country.

I’m proud of my service; incredibly appreciative of the experiences I have had since joining the Air Force and truly feel what I do makes a difference, Having not known exactly what I would do when I grew up, I candidly cannot think of anything else I would rather do.