My Montana roots stretch back four generations to 1869, when my great-grandfather immigrated here from Germany. Though I was born in California and raised in New Mexico, I spent most of my non-work time as an adult visiting friends and relatives in Montana before finally making it my permanent home.

A lifelong Republican, I cast my first vote for Ronald Reagan in 1980. I graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1985 with a B.S. in History and Engineering, and later earned an M.A. in Space Systems Management from Webster University. In my time with the Air Force, I served as a Satellite Controller, a Navigator on the KC-135R aerial tanker, an Air Force ROTC Assistant Professor, and in a Major Command headquarters as a Project and Software Manager, retiring in 2013 after 32 years of service. I hold a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

In addition, I spent 12 years in the private sector as an FAA-certified Aircraft Dispatcher. I taught in the public schools as a Middle School Science Teacher and worked nearly a decade with the Department of Veterans Affairs—most recently with the Montana VA Healthcare System at Fort Harrison as a Management and Program Analyst.

During the 2025 Montana Legislative Session, I served as a House Sergeant at Arms staffer. I’ve volunteered for many years with the Boy Scouts of America and Civil Air Patrol, and currently serve as Vice Commander of American Legion Post 2 in Helena. I’m active in my church and local curling club. I enjoy skiing, mountain biking, kayaking and traveling throughout the West in my camper van. I am a proud father of two sons: Nathan, an Aerospace Engineer, and Brent, a Computer Information Tech.