How did I get here?

I grew up in a middle class suburban home that was, as I later found out, not as average as I thought. My parents were largely great and they stayed together for their lives. We weren't a perfect family, no one is, but we maintain a good relationship even now.

As a youngster, I joined Cub Scouts because all (most) of the boys in my elementary school did and later on I went into Boy Scouts because it was fun. In that process, I was brought up with a sense to serve other people and it has largely followed me throughout my life.

I attended the U.S. Naval Academy in the service for my country, but even if I hadn't, I was well on my way to enlist into one of the services.

For most of my working career, I have been a civil servant, always with that mind set that I am working for the people.

Even in the event where I wasn't working for a municipality, it was some kind of service position (delivery driver, customer service, etc.)