Congratulations on your recent promotion! What rank were you promoted to?
“I was promoted to Major in the United States Marine Corps Reserve.”
How long did it take you to achieve your new rank?
“I’ve been in the Marine Corps for nearly 19 and ½ years. I enlisted in 2004 and was
commissioned as an officer in 2012. So, while you could say it took me almost 20 years, only 11
and ½ of them were as an officer. I was promoted to Captain in 2017 so it’s been nearly 7 years
since my last promotion.”
Can you share a bit about your journey in the military and some of the key experiences that
have shaped your career so far?
- “I joined the Marines as a Gold Star brother in 2004. While there are numerous
experiences that have shaped my career, there are a few that come to mind. My last
deployment was with one of the best teams I’ve ever been on. We had phenomenal
leadership and Marines who were bought into our philosophy. As a result, we were able
to accomplish some incredible feats. Those Marines still keep in touch today, which is a
testament to our camaraderie.” - “I spent three years at the United States Naval Academy as a Company Officer. This job
really shaped me as a leader. It was the first time in my career that and was given the
opportunity to lead young men and women who were not just Marines. I would argue
that I learned more from those students than they learned from me. I learned a lot
about patience and empathy.” - “Finally, my last few years in the Reserve, Commanding Havoc Battery in Richmond, VA ,
and serving as the Operations Officer at 2d Bn, 14th Marines have been instrumental in
my career. The Marines who are serving in the Reserves bring a new perspective to both
their military units and their civilian jobs. There is a special commitment to serve from
the Reserve Marines. They balance a career or schooling, their family, and a demanding
part–time job. Many of them are not on contract and doing out of a sense of service to
their country. That’s admirable!”
How have the leadership skills and values you cultivated in the military influenced your
approach to your role here at FiOptix?
“The Marine Corps sent me to college to earn a Masters degree in Leadership, Education, and
Development. The educational opportunity gave me a baseline for the professional skills
required to succeed here at FiOptix. Ultimately, the leadership experience from the Marine Corps
translates well here. At the end of the day, it’s all about the people around you. I’ve always
believed that the role of a leader is to remove the obstacles that prevent your team from
achieving personal and professional goals. It doesn’t take a uniform or a rifle to take this
approach!”
required to succeed here at FiOptix. Ultimately, the leadership experience from the Marine Corps
translates well here. At the end of the day, it’s all about the people around you. I’ve always
believed that the role of a leader is to remove the obstacles that prevent your team from
achieving personal and professional goals. It doesn’t take a uniform or a rifle to take this
approach!”
In your military career, you likely faced various challenges. How have you applied the problem–
solving skills gained from those experiences to your current position at FiOptix?
“I think the best lesson I learned from the military that has translated to FiOptix is how to keep
your head when life gets crazy. FiOptix is an incredibly dynamic organization that consistently
experiences change in the industry. The ability to embrace the hardships and recognize that
emotional responses will set us back goes a long way.”
Communication is key in any organization. How have the communication strategies and
practices you developed in the military contributed to your success in your current role?
“In the Marine Corps, we include the Commander’s Intent in all our orders. The most important
aspect of this is the ‘why.’ People are more likely to buy into your tasking if they understand the
why and the end state. In addition to the buy–in, they are able to act in your absence since they
know what is ultimately being accomplished and why.”
Being in a leadership position both in the military and at FiOptix, how do you foster a sense of
camaraderie and teamwork among your colleagues, drawing from your military experience?
“Storytelling goes a long way. I always enjoy taking leadership lessons I’ve learned in the
military and tying them into situations we encounter here.”
Why did you choose to have your promotion ceremony here at the office headquarters?
“FiOptix has been incredibly supportive of both the Veterans and those currently serving. On a
personal level, I’m deeply appreciative of the support and flexibility they’ve offered me in my
continued military service. Whether it is my monthly duties, the occasional teleconference I need
to make during the day, or my annual two–week training, they always provide me with the time
required to succeed as a Marine Officer. I thought that doing my promotion here, allows the
team to get a glimpse into the “other” side of my career.”’