From an early young age, I was interested in military service. I remember my older brother, who was then in the Army, coming home occasionally to visit our family and friends. His uniforms and the stories he would share intrigued me with the excitement, camaraderie, and a sense of purpose of putting his country and others before himself. Little did I know that the experiences he would share with me would guide me on a path of a 24-year military career. As time progressed, I knew I wanted to follow in his footsteps. This began my passion and desire to be part of something bigger than myself. I embodied the culture of what the military represents. The Army's Core Values of Leadership, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage still resonate with me. The military helped transform me into an individual sparked by new ideas, ways to manage, and an ability to cope with unforeseen circumstances. My military career helped create my WHY or purpose that drives me daily and has allowed me to become successful. It is the things that you learn from the past that can prepare you for the future. Everyone should learn from their past mistakes. That is why I live by the saying to remember past experiences. We can drive inspiration for the future. Lastly, the military provided me with heightened skillsets of technical knowledge towards roles as an Operations Director skilled in Intelligence Analysis, Operational Planning, Management, Leadership, Mentoring, and Personnel Management within various settings and cross-functional teams.