My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style.

I've always been motivated to travel by an interest in people and the things that make us both alike and different, their philosophies and customs.

Holding doctoral degrees in law and counseling psychology, I am in my final year of completing a doctoral degree in the field of educational leadership.

A veteran, I served on active duty in the U.S. Navy for ten years. During my service I was honored with the award of the Bronze Star (with valor) and the Purple Heart. Based primarily in San Diego, I travelled extensively, serving in both Iraq and Afganisatan before being honorably discharged.

My wife and I are Francophiles with a passion for all things French. We lead a very active lifestyle and love to write, cook, garden, play pétanque, entertain, travel and enjoy time with friends and family.

My professional work and research in educational leadership has focused on helping others achieve their goals through quality structured educational experiences and development of their own unique gifts.

Leadership is communicating to people their worth and potential so clearly that they come to see it in themselves. Leadership is beyond focusing and motivating a group to enable them to achieve and sustain common goals. It involves being ethical, accountable and responsible for the group as a whole. It is about providing continuity, momentum, and flexibility in accommodating changes in the course of direction. For me, the essence of leadership is the ability to understand the passions of people and to integrate these passions in a collective goal. Leadership is to understand when to lead and when to be guided in order to achieve a desired outcome.

Giving back to the community is very important to me. I feel very fortunate to be in a position to make a difference. I urge everyone to have the courage to dream big, courage of conviction, courage to go against traditional thinking and courage to take risks without having to compromise on values and principles. Successful people not only adapt to change with speed, but also see change as an opportunity.