We are a military family.  My father was a sailor in WWII; his brother was a career sailor.  I was a Navy pilot for almost 25 years; my brother was a Navy Submariner; my son-in law was career Navy; my son and daughter in law are serving USAF officers and a nephew and grand son are active duty Marines.

Navy Pilot qualified in 7 different type military aircraft (5 different civilian aircraft).  Served in 4 squadrons; HC-3; HC-16; HC-8 and commanding officer of HC-6.  My last duty station was as the second in command of Naval Air Facility El Centro where the Blue Angles do their winter training.  Later I was an airline Captain, member of ALPA National Security Committee and in the first class of Federal Flight Deck Officers (Deputized Airline Pilots).

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Made multiple deployments to Western Pacific; Mediterranean, Caribbean as well as serving as senior member of joint teams to 4 separate countries; team member on trips to 9 additional countries with senior military and civilian leadership.  The Navy took me to 5 continents and sailed all over the world, too many countries to mention.

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Flight instructor, standardization and instructor pilot, held every flying designation available including fleet standardization pilot and maintenance quality assurance officer. 

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USS Saipan conducting operations in Grenada rescuing American students.  Officer in charge of multiple deployed helicopter detachments including operations in the Gulf of Sidra against Muammar Qaddafi in 1986 and the Mariel Boat Lift from Cuba in 1980.

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Served 2 staff tours in the Pentagon, one on the Navy Staff working Plans, Policy and Current Operations and later on the Secretary of Defense Staff working on military assistance overseas, including UN operations in Somalia when that was the hot area.  During that time I was a by name invitee to 2 White House conferences.

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I have approximately 10,000 flight hours with 3,000 hours in helicopters.  I have landed aircraft on fire, on a golf course and the last malfunction was a goose through the right motor on takeoff out of Washington Dulles airport with 50 passengers on board.

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I was a real estate appraiser for over 10 years, elected County Assessor in 2014 and re-elected in 2018.  I am a past President, current member of the Western Slope Military Officers Association: past President and current member of the Grand Junction Lions Club; Vestry member of St Matthews Church, Grand Junction; Commemorative Air Force; Current Vice President of the Colorado Assessor’s Association (CAA), former CAA Education Committee Chair and District Chair.