I grew up in a trailer park outside Phoenix. Our home was small but always busy. Both my parents juggled multiple jobs at times to keep us afloat, so the kids learned to handle dinner, help each other with homework, and keep things running. My parents showed me that you have to pick yourself up, support your family in every way you can, and make each and every moment count. I learned a lot from watching my parents’ dedication to giving us the very best they could.

My parents worked hard, and our neighbors pitched in when needed. That’s just how it was. You showed up for people, whether it was watching someone’s kids or lending a hand when things got tough. I carry that with me still today, you help out when you can.

In 2011 I raised my right hand and joined the U.S. Navy, beginning six years that help shape who I am today. Most of my service was at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, where I worked alongside sailors from every corner of America.

The Navy taught me how to stay calm under pressure and make decisions when they matter. Standing watch on midnight shifts and working with diverse teams, I learned that good leadership means listening to your people, taking responsibility for outcomes, and never asking someone to do something you wouldn’t do yourself.

I also saw firsthand how military policies affect real families. When bureaucratic delays keep housing allowances from Sailors or when deployment schedules disrupted family life, I witnessed how decisions made in offices far away ripple through entire communities. That experience taught me that policy isn’t abstract, it’s about real people trying to build good lives.

When my enlistment ended, I chose to return to civilian life, but I carried forward the discipline and problem-solving skills the Navy instilled in me. More importantly, I kept the commitment to service that drew me to the military in the first place. Now I want to serve the community I call home.

After leaving the Navy, I went back to school with a clear goal: understanding how law and policy actually work. I earned both a Bachelor’s in Jurisprudence and a Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore while working full time, and learning Maryland law from the ground up. The Defense Language Institute had already given me an Associate of Arts in Chinese-Mandarin, which taught me patience and attention to detail.

My career path has always combined technical skills with practical problem solving. I started in help desk roles, learning to translate complex technical issues into everyday language that regular people understand. The Navy expanded that foundation having to teach complex networking and engineering concepts quickly, and since returning to civilian life, I’ve focused on cybersecurity and defense technology. As a local defense consultant, I help government agencies and businesses protect their computer systems and navigate digital security challenges.

This combination of legal training and technical expertise gives me a unique perspective on the challenges facing our community. Whether it’s understanding how new technology affects privacy rights or helping to protect our nation’s critical infrastructure from cyber threats, I’ve seen how policy and practice intersect in the real world.

Volunteering has been part of my life since elementary school, when I was chosen as a peer mediator to help other students work through their problems. By high school, I had logged over 200 hours volunteering through my school’s KEY Club chapter, working in soup kitchens, and organizing community events.

In the Navy, I helped found Sailors Against Drunk Driving, a volunteer ride program that grew base-wide and was recognized by the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (the most senior ranking enlisted person in the entire Navy). We coordinated volunteers to pick up sailors who needed safe rides home when their plans fell through and they ran out of options, with no questions asked. On weekends, I joined beach cleanups, trail maintenance projects, and volunteered at the Hawaiian Humane Society walking and training shelter dogs.

That commitment to service followed me back to Maryland. I joined a local volunteer fire company and completed EMT training, responding to emergency calls in our community. When law school demanded too much time, I had to step back, but I remain ready to return when needed. During law school, I also served as the evening student representative on the University of Baltimore Student Bar Association.

Since 2021, I’ve been a member of the Civil Air Patrol, working toward requirements to become a mission pilot for Chesapeake Bay search and rescue flights. Every week, I volunteer with the Maryland Court Help Center, taking calls from Marylanders who can’t afford lawyers and helping them navigate family court, landlord-tenant disputes, and small claims cases. This year, I’m serving on Anne Arundel Community College’s Academic Integrity Review Board, helping to ensure a fair and just resolution of academic conduct matters.

Whether mediating playground disputes in elementary school or preparing for Bay Patrol missions today, the goal has always been the same: help where help is needed.

I’m proud to call Anne Arundel County home, along with my mom who lives right here in District 2. My two dogs, Atlas and Noelle, keep me grounded and remind me daily that the best part of any day is a good walk around the neighborhood.

When I’m not working or volunteering, you’ll find me with my hands busy on some project. I love building things, whether it’s LEGO sets, model aircraft, or my current obsession: a life-size airplane that I’m constructing. It’s a years-long project that I’m eagerly taking on. I also make wine and mead at home, which means I’m always experimenting with new recipes and sharing the results with friends.

I’m an avid reader, especially science fiction and fantasy novels that let me escape into other worlds. When I want to unwind, I play survival video games where I can build virtual communities and solve complex problems. Hawaii taught me to scuba dive, and I still love exploring underwater whenever I get the chance. More recently, I’ve gotten into rock climbing, which has taught me that sometimes the best way forward is to take it one hold at a time.

Learning new skills has always been a passion of mine. Whether it’s figuring out how to ferment the perfect batch of mead or teaching myself to build websites, I’m happiest when I’m tackling something I’ve never done before. That curiosity about how things work has shaped everything from my career to my hobbies, and it’s what I’ll bring to the challenges facing our community.