I was born into an Air Force family and lived all over the country and overseas before serving for two years as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, in Madrid, Spain and then attending Brigham Young University, where I graduated from in 1985 with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management. I received a Master’s in Logistics Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1991 and a second Master's Degree in National Security Studies, with an emphasis in Supply Chain Management, from the National Defense University in 2008.
Upon graduation from BYU, I was commissioned a 2nd Lt through the BYU ROTC program and then served for 27 years, in both logistics and acquisition, deploying to the Middle East 4 times and retiring in 2012 as a Colonel, while leading the Air Force’s conventional munitions Program Office at Hill AFB. My dream, while growing up was always to be a pilot; however, poor eyesight kept me from my dream, but I was blessed to become a maintenance officer with fighter aircraft. Although I still love being around aircraft, what I learned to relish was the opportunity to lead people and organizations. One of my favorite accomplishments was when I was asked to replace the commander of a failed squadron and was able to rebuild that unit to where it won the award of being the best aircraft squadron in the Pacific Air Forces 18 months later.
I also had the opportunity, with one of my deployments, to command the Maintenance Group in Iraq, where I was responsible for over 1200 airmen and close to 100 aircraft in the country supporting Coalition troops. Although retired from active duty, I still support the Air Force and am currently employed by a leading aerospace company as their corporate representative in Utah.
I have had a few defining moments in my life which have guided my actions. One of those was an opportunity to visit Berlin when the wall was still up and the Cold War was in full bore. Here was the jewel of the the former Soviet Union and yet I saw people lined up to get into food stores and the buildings still had pockmarks from WWII, which had ended 25 years prior. I clearly remember the palpable relief everyone felt and the cheers on the bus as we passed through Checkpoint Charlie, back into the West. Also, seeing, first-hand, the loss of personal freedoms resulting from Communist rule and later during my military career, the destruction in Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq which all stemmed from totalitarian dictatorships deepened my commitment to the ideals our nation was founded upon. I have always focused my attention on National politics, but events over the past couple of years have impressed upon me the understanding that liberty and freedom begin (and end) locally and I looks forward to strengthening those ideals in a community I have come to love and now call home.
I have enjoyed golfing for over 40 years, and still am not very good at it. I also like taking long walks with my wife, where we solve the world's problems or at least our family concerns; but over the past few years my greatest joy has become our grandchildren, who unfortunately live in Oregon!
Marci and I recently celebrated our 38th anniversary and have lived in Kaysville for the past 12 years. We have four children, the youngest two having graduated from Davis High, and three grandchildren.
This will probably change as I continue to learn; but, I am not coming into this race with a burning platform that needs to be addressed. I believe I can contribute to Kaysville remaining one of the most desired cities in the state to live in.
As I have talked with Kaysville residents, one of their pressing concerns is "dense housing." Most agree there is a need and a place for it, as long as it's not in their backyard. One of the purposes of a city's planning commission and City Council is to have a viable plan specifying the best locations for dense housing options, and how to insure these projects don't adversely affect the infrastructure of Kaysville or its neighborhoods. However, what residents need to be aware of is that, in addition to the natural growth happening in Northern Utah, Hill AFB envisions adding 10,000 new positions over the coming decade, and Northrup Grumman plans on apx. 1,500 new, Utah jobs, for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program. Kaysville will, and should, absorb some of that growth, but we must properly plan for that future...starting now.
I, like every other Kaysville resident, recently received my 2021 Property Valuation and Tax Change notification. I am concerned about the sharp increase, and especially how this affects our Kaysville City households who are on a fixed income. I will always ask the "Why" questions on all budget issues to make sure they are necessary and we don't have another way to solve problems, other than additional taxation.
My family is the most important aspect of my life and Kaysville was the perfect place to put down permanent roots (after 30 moves in my life) and to finish raising our children. I want others to have that same experience.
I believe that all governments exist to serve the people, and I want to ensure our city government always has the best interests of the Kaysville population at heart.
Other than wanting to show off one of my best buddies, Jett has nothing to do with my Board involvements!
I have been on the Board of Directors of the Utah Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Initiative (UAMMI) since it's organization in 2015 and served as Chairman of the Board from 2017-2019.
I also, currently serve on the Board of Directors for the Wolf Creek Foundation, which focuses on helping military family members deal with the stress and anxiety of deployments and have been with them since 2017.
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