What first attracted you to the Army?

I needed money for school, and my brother was in the Army at the time. He had gotten through school through ROTC, so I took his advice and followed suit. My intention was to merely pay back my obligation of four years, but I learned to love the Army, and 26 years later, I gave it up.

What is your proudest military achievement?

I’m most proud of my time as battalion commander at Fort Campbell (1992—94). I was very fortunate as a lieutenant colonel to have stood up [created] a battalion from the ground up. It allowed me to take the best ideas from everyone involved to ensure that we included the best processes, procedures, tactics, and techniques. It was a rewarding experience to see it come together.

What prompted you to pursue elected office?

When I was younger, I had political aspirations. Then I watched several elections and saw how personal things got, and I pushed that idea out of my mind. However, after I retired from the Army I somehow was convinced to run for this office and, sure enough, I won. I now am fortunate to have the opportunity to help our community accept and prepare for what is in store for us in the future, rather than reacting to those changes. 

What has taken you by surprise since retiring?

You have to adjust your thinking. In the military, there is always someone in charge, someone to whom you can go to get things back on track. In civilian life, that is sometimes difficult. You are less in control of your destiny as a civilian. The sense of process and regimentation I learned in the Army has helped me in public service, particularly as I serve as chairman of our county’s strategic planning committee.

What advice would you give an officer who is thinking about retirement?

Retirement planning is as important as anything you’ll ever do while you’re on active duty, and you should start in your 18th year. Key for me was retiring on my own terms. You might still have some goals left to achieve in the Army that make you really not ready to retire. 

“The sense of process and 
regimentation I learned in the Army has helped me in public 
service.”

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