The Blessing of Service in Arlington

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." — Proverbs 16:3

Having lived in 15 states and 4 countries throughout my life, I have seen communities of all shapes and sizes. But 26 years ago, I was blessed to find my true home right here in Arlington, Texas. As a Marine Corps veteran, the values of service, dedication, and community run deep in my blood. For me, loving Arlington isn't just a feeling; it is an active, daily commitment to rolling up my sleeves and working alongside my neighbors to make our city a safer, cleaner, and more unified place for everyone.

My journey of service here has allowed me to connect with Arlington in so many profound ways. I have walked our streets to protect our neighborhoods through Community Watch and Citizens On Patrol, worked with Code Rangers, and graduated from the Arlington Citizens Police Academy and its Association. Out of a desire to care for the beautiful spaces we share, I pioneered and organized the Annual Fish Creek Cleanup Challenge, pouring my heart into leading it for eight years before proudly passing the torch to our District 3 Council Representative, Nikkie Hunter, for the 9th annual event.

My passion for our local veteran community led me to serve as the platoon leader for The Mission Continues DFW platoon, coordinating multiple impactful community events, and to deliver Character Does Matter presentations with the Travis Manion Foundation. One of my proudest moments of impact was serving as the TMF 9/11 DFW Race Director for three years, where I worked hard to officially move the race from Dallas to Arlington, showcasing the true, patriotic heartbeat of our city.

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." — Proverbs 27:17

Arlington is a uniquely special city because of the people who build it up every single day. It has been the absolute honor of my life to serve as a professional volunteer here, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with compassionate neighbors, first responders, and fellow leaders. Every project, every cleanup, and every race has been a reminder of how resilient and connected we are. As Arlington celebrates this historic 150th sesquicentennial milestone, I look back on my 26 years here with immense gratitude. It is a profound, life-changing blessing to call Arlington my home.