The year was 2003, and I chose to jump off a bridge. I stood, paralyzed by fear as I stared at the Bloukrans River rushing around the rocks more than 600 feet below. I had already watched several people take the leap off the bridge and bungee safely at the worlds (then) highest jump. But I knew that I would die if I did. Every fiber of my being knew that making that jump would kill me. But the rational part of my mind knew that this was exceedingly unlikely (although not impossible). I agonized for what felt like ages, as I weighed whether to stay safe, or take that crazy jump. In that moment, I decided that I would rather die than remember walking away from that opportunity, and so I leapt. That single jump changed the course of my life and enabled every major success I've had since then. Overcoming that fear and embracing the risk liberated me from letting fear dominate my decisions and this has allowed me to pursue opportunities that before I would have avoided in favor of the "safe" route. In a sense, that is exactly what I am doing now as I transition from the relatively "safe" career I've had with the Coast Guard to something new, different, and risky for me.  My personal values are integrity, service, respect, effectiveness, and family. I am an innate problem solver, have a passion for learning, and am confident that I can add value to any team I am part of, while learning new skills to excel and grow in the organization. Service is my passion, and I will bring that to whatever my next role might be.I have over 15 years of experience leading maritime and aviation operations and conducting multilateral international engagements. Prior to my current role, I served as the Coast Guard Attaché to Ecuador, where I leveraged my interpersonal relationships and Spanish fluency to advance US strategic goals on matters of maritime security, defense cooperation, and international maritime law. I am passionate about advancing US foreign policy objectives and fostering collaboration and trust among diverse stakeholders. As a Rotary Wing Platform Manager at the U.S. Coast Guard, I am responsible for policy, plans, and management of all 90+ MH-65 helicopters worth approximately $1.9 billion. I coordinate efforts with other USCG, DHS, DoD, and industry partners to ensure the readiness, safety, and effectiveness of the rotary wing fleet.I am looking to leverage my skills, experience, and TS/SCI clearance into a full-time, Washington D.C. area role that will support our nation achieve foreign affairs objectives.