I grew up in South Florida spending most of my childhood in or around both the ocean and the Everglades learning to swim well before knowing how to walk. After High School, I joined the United States Marine Corps where I would spend the next 5 years on active duty traveling the world more than 3 times, engaging in several real-world operations prior to combat operations in both Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. I came home and worked for Dekalb County Fire Rescue as a Firefighter/Medic for the next almost 10yrs. I then went to work for the well-known veteran’s organization, Wounded Warrior Project. I spent almost 8 years on the mental health team and the remaining 3 as part of the outreach team. I have had the pleasure of working with the Aquarium over the years and more recently with Military Salute. It is a program I believe strongly in due to the proven effects that the outdoors, especially the water has on veterans’ mental and physical health. Connecting with nature and its creatures is both empowering and healing, and I have seen firsthand what it has done for me personally as well as my fellow veterans. I currently live South of Atlanta in Newnan with my wife and children. We love all things outdoors and are very thankful to now be a part of the Georgia Aquarium family.