Before my studies here -- at the Ross School of Business and now in NAME -- I was a Special Operations officer in the Navy for 10 years. I did all sorts of things that I'm proud of, but the most meaningful was disarming roadside bombs in Iraq. I grew from a boy to a man in the military, and I'm proud of how the service guided that transition. I found that public service and service to others in general add color and depth to our otherwise selfishly shallow everyday pursuits.

As I said, I'm a NAME student going for my PhD. Before that I got my MBA from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business. I did my undergraduate work at the U.S. Naval Academy -- I was attracted there by the camaraderie I felt during a visit to the campus and, before that, by the moving fact that, at my grandfather's funeral, a gentlemen who had served with him on a ship in WWII traveled 1500 miles to Eastern South Dakota to attend. Right after I got out of Annapolis I went into the Special Operations community. Looking back, I think my military experience has helped me find the confidence, self-motivation and drive needed to succeed in a competitive educational environment like U-M's.

Just as teamwork is important in the military, it's very important in both the MBA and PhD programs. Having a mentor is also a key. Currently I have two. My academic mentor is my PhD advisor, Professor Nickolas Vlahopoulos. My business mentor is a "retired" professional from the energy industry. I'm lucky to have them in my corner.

In fact, I've been very fortunate to have the opportunity to see quite a bit and do quite a bit so far in my life. I can't wait for the next adventure.