When I was really young, I wanted to be an astronaut. I wanted to be a pilot at some point. I was probably in middle school when the Navy really seemed appealing.

I went to the Naval Academy. That's where I wanted to go pretty young. While you're at the Naval Academy, during the summertime, you have the opportunity to do different things. I rode submarines.

Once I rode that first submarine, I was sold. From that point on, the pathway's pretty much set. I got some opportunities for some variance, but eventually, I graduated. I selected — and was selected — to go and join the submarine community.

I've had leaders that I really looked up to, when I was more junior. I would look at them and I'd be like, “Man, they're the captain. I want to be them one day." Now that I'm there, I enjoy it. Every admiral I've spoken to, people that have been in my seat at one point before, they all say, "That was the best time of my career." I try to enjoy it every day knowing that one day it's going to come to an end eventually.

Our first boat was in Hawaii, and then we went to Guam. A little less than three years on that submarine. I actually I got a chance to stand watch and actually have people that I was responsible for and earned my submarine dolphins that I proudly wear today.

After you've finished that tour, at that point, really your initial Navy obligation is pretty close to being over. But I enjoyed what I did and I wanted to continue doing it, so I went back to the Naval Academy and I taught for a couple of years.

Went to another submarine. I was the second in command. That was my first SSBN. It's a ballistic missile submarine. A different set of missions than the other submarines I was on before. Our mission is to hide and deter other countries from attacking America.

I do have a ship to command. It's just not finished, but it’s being built, right down the road at Electric Boat. I have a full crew: 130 sailors. I spend my time supervising the construction of it and making sure that the crew is getting trained.

I'm a fan of history. I think about hundreds of years ago, ships would go out to sea for sometimes years. You're representing your country, thousands of miles away.

I don't really have any other dreams as of this time. I recognize one day it'll come to an end — one day I won't be a captain of a ship anymore. One day I won't be in the Navy anymore. I've tried to set myself up to have opportunities in the future, after the Navy. I'm trying to enjoy what I'm doing now, because I don't think any of those things would be as enjoyable as is what I do right now. I love it.

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