I joined the Navy in February 1977 and completed basic training and Sonar Technician School in San Diego.  I was initially assigned to the  frigate USS Miller (FF 1091) followed by a tour aboard the USS Leftwich (DD 984).  In 1983, after graduating from California State University, Chico, I received a commission and was assigned to the a minesweeper  USS Excel (MSO 439) where I served as Supply Officer, Damage Control assistant and Chief Engineer.  In 1987, I was assigned to the guided missile frigate USS Thach (FFG 43) as Chief Engineer followed by a tour as Material Officer (Engineer) on the staff of Commander Destroyer Squadron Thirteen.  After graduating from the Naval Post Graduate School, I was assigned was as a Budget Analyst and Resources Planner on the Secretary of the Navy and Chief of Naval Operations staffs.  In 1966 I attended the Naval War College and then commanded the mine countermeasures ships USS Gladiator (MCM 11) and USS Dextrous (MCM 13) in the Persian Gulf.  My final assignment was Executive Assistant to a senior government service executive at the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization in Washington, D.C.  I retired in 2001.  My wife Nancy and I have two grown sons David and Michael.