At my first duty station, our Colonel gave a room full of 2nd Lieutenants a piece of advice that has followed me through today. He said, "Bloom where you are planted." While perhaps a little corny, the point is concise. We may not always be able to choose our setting, but we can and should control our outcome there. Adaptability and continuous improvement for the systems and the teams I am part of have been central themes in my career. I attribute many of my motivations and values to the principles taught at the Virginia Military Institute. Academics, athletics, leadership, and public service remain my driving motivations today.