I retired from the U.S. Navy in October 2008 at the rank of Captain. I received my commission in 1983 through Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, and subsequently served in various positions aboard four ships: USS BADGER (FF-1071), USS W S SIMS (FF-1059), plankowner onboard USS BATAAN (LHD-5) and Supply Officer onboard USS WASP (LHD 1) from May 2003 through June 2005 (including 7 ½ month deployment in 2004 with 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit).Among several shore duty assignments, I served as Executive Assistant for two Chiefs of U.S. Navy Supply Corps and as Executive Officer at Defense Logistics Agency, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. My final active duty station was serving as Comptroller, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, Virginia, where I was responsible for the execution of a budget exceeding $9 billion annually to support, among other activities, all Atlantic Fleet ships, submarines, and Navy and Marine Corps aviation assets.