Greetings,
Currently, I’m an assistant research professor with the Center for Alaska Native Health Research (CANHR). My role at CANHR is to better understanding health and wellness through behavioral and psychological lenses. In particular, my efforts center on understanding and addressing suicide prevention among Alaskan veterans and our service members stationed in rural and remote areas.
In addition to serving CANHR, I support the Vice Chancellor of Research at UAF in its effort to foster research opportunities with the Department of Defense and other related national security agencies.
Being an affiliate of the Center for Arctic Security and Resilience (CASR), I look for opportunities to join conversations regarding national security and the Arctic. In particular, discussions and research efforts that consider special operations forces in the Arctic.
I was clinically trained as a mental health counselor and earned a Ph.D. in counselor education and educational psychology from a CACREP-accredited program, Southern Illinois University Carbondale. I earned a masters in clinical mental health from the University of Missouri – St Louis and another masters in International Relations from the University of Connecticut, Storrs. At UCONN, I earned a BA with a focus on developing countries and the Southern Hemisphere.
Another part of my professional profile is my military service. I hold the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army Reserves. I was active duty as a Special Forces soldier and then as an Intelligence Officer in various special operations forces organizations. Now I serve Alaskan Command out of JBER as an augmentee.
I love living in the Interior of Alaska and so do my family! I have twin daughters who make me look good as a parent. God must of have thought I was overwhelmed with my own challenges that it was best to bless me with great young ladies. My wife tolerates me as I know I won in her willingness to marry me! She’s a great leader and committed to serving our service members and their families.
I’m always looking for someone to show me new hunting and fishing spots. If it weren’t for folks showing me places and the how-to in fishing and hunting, I would starve to death.