Hi!

Professionally, I plan on commissioning into the US Army. I intend to branch either Armor or Infantry, detail Military Intelligence. Currently, I am pursuing an International Studies degree with a National Security Minor. My thesis topic is the relationship between domestic population demographics and the performance of a government over time, which is subject to change over the course of my research (!).

While the path to a branch in the Army is not guaranteed any certain outcome, I aim to do some time in the field with a Combat Arms branch, then move forward with Intelligence. Following my Army career, despite its length, I see myself pursuing the field of intelligence and international relations in a federal capacity. I hope to start off my official intelligence career with an internship during Summer 2023 (#).

A few fun facts about myself— I enjoy playing lacrosse and lead the club team at VMI. I strive to improve my physical capabilities by weightlifting and outdoor activity (hiking, etc.). I’m always listening to music, no matter what I’m doing. I love dogs, especially any mix with Golden Retrievers because of their friendly and fun personality. The holiday season is my favorite time of year, but I love the Fall and Halloween-time ($).

In day-to-day life, I strive to be known as approachable and friendly. I enjoy being someone that people can talk to, or who can be asked for help with whatever a friend needs. It’s a priority of mine to be knowledgeable about the things I study or am responsible for, as I always want to come across as reliable. In my experience, being known as someone who others can come to for advice or expertise is as rewarding for me as it is for them. It is imperative to my definition of leadership to be someone others can rely on, despite the number or difficulty of tasks I have to do myself (%).

The picture below represents leadership to me. In the image, the torch’s integrity is protected while the one holding it is underwater. This represents a leader’s dedication to maintaining reliability and the mission, regardless of personal problems. While I believe a good leader needs to tend to self-care to continue being reliable and set a good example, often personal preferences are overlooked because of the responsibility one holds (^).