My time with Jenks Public Schools began in Kindergarten at Jenks East Elementary with Mrs. Eads in 1979, and continues today with my daughters, Hayden (21’) and Kate who will graduate from Jenks in 2025. My girls are fourth generation Jenks Lifers on their maternal side. My wife, Jeanie (91’), her parents (65’ and 68’), and grandfather (46’) are proud Jenks Alumni.  As for me, I graduated from Jenks in 1992. 

After graduation, I attended Oklahoma State University and graduated in 1996 with a degree in Aviation Science. I was fortunate enough to be selected for the United States Naval Aviation Program and officially joined the Navy in November of 1996. I was honored to serve as a Naval Aviator in the U.S. Armed Forces from 1996-2018. I flew helicopters in the early part of my career, and was attached to HC-2 at Naval Air Station Norfolk, VA. and it’s forward deployed detachment in Manama, Bahrain. After serving five years in the helicopter community, I became an instructor pilot in two place trainer aircraft. I served on active duty for 10 years and the remainder of my 22 years of service in the Naval Reserves.  From 2002 to 2018, I was attached to the 33^rd Flying Training Squadron and the 5^th Flying Training Squadron at Vance Air Force Base and VT-27 Squadron Augmentation Unit at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas where I trained numerous men and women currently serving as pilots in the Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and some foreign military pilots. While serving in the Reserves, I was hired by Southwest Airlines in 2008, and I am currently a Captain with SWA based in Denver, CO. It was a childhood dream of mine to both fly and serve in the military, and I believe Jenks Public Schools played a significant role in preparing me to achieve those goals.

Although we enjoyed living in other parts of the country, it was always important for Jeanie and me to return to our Jenks roots. We feel blessed to have had the opportunity to raise our girls in the Jenks community and the school we love so much. Our youngest is thriving at the high school level and is currently a member of the Jenks Trojan Pride Band and the Track and Field team, and you’ll often find us in the stands cheering on our beloved Trojans. Jenks continues to succeed in its mission of helping kids get a great education and setting them up for success as alumni. Go Trojans! Lead the way.