Born in Pittsburg, PA, I received my draft notice in September 1968, following graduation from Wheeling Jesuit University. I volunteered for Officer Candidate School (OCS) and attended Basic Training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, and graduated AIT and Officers' Candidate School (OCS) at Ft Sill, OK, and Air Defense Artillery School (ADA) Officer Basic at Ft Bliss, TX in 1969.

My initial military assignment was in the Resource Management Division at the Army Air Defense Command (ARADCOM),  Ent AFB, CO. While there, I inspected all the Army Air Defense  units throughout the U.S. and  received an Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) for my service.

In 1971 thru 1972 I was assigned to Bien Hoa, Vietnam as an Aviation Maintenance Officer and S-2 with the 229th Assault Helicopter Bn, First Bde Separate, First Cavalry Div (Sep). There, I maintained combat readiness for 160 helicopters, and later served as the Battalion Intelligence Officer. I was awarded the Bronze Star and Air Medals for service during the Easter Offensive of 1972, and received the Presidential Unit Citation and Campaign Ribbons for service.  

During 1973 thru 1974 I was assigned as Flight Detachment Commander  and Assistant Operations Officer to the 18th  ADA Grp Oakdale, PA, where I provided aviation support for the Group and served as assistant operations officer.

In 1974 thru 1976, I commanded  the HHB 2nd  Bn, 52 ADA Bde at Fort Bliss, TX, and during the period 

1977 thru 1979 I commanded  an Air Defense Detachment  of the 558th  ADA  Grp in Keretea, Greece.   The HHB was a service battery that supported missile firings at the White Sands Missile Range, while the Detachment secured U.S. Nuclear Warheads.

In 1979 thru 1981, I as assigned as Senior Resource Advisor to the 81^st  ARCOM, East Point, GA, and during 1981 thru 1983 was assigned back to Greece as the U.S. Senior Evaluator at the NATO Missile Firing Installation, Crete. The Resource Advisor assignment had me visiting and inspecting all Army Reserve Units in GA and FL, in Crete I evaluated annual missile firings for all NATO Nike Hercules  Missile Units in Europe. During these  periods  I was awarded several ARCOMS and Meritorious Service Medals.

In 1984 thru 1988 I was assigned to the Pentagon, Washington,  DC as the Programs Manager in the Office of the Chief Army Reserve (OCAR), and later as Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary and Undersecretary of the Army. As programs manager, I oversawmulti-million dollar budgetsfor programs, operations and maintenance (POM) of all Army Reserve Units, and integrated computer systems to support the OCAR POM. During this Pentagon period I was further assigned as an assistant to the Undersecretary of the Army, where I supported a new Civilian Secretary during a Congressionally mandated reorganization of the military services. For these assignments I was awardeda Meritorious ServiceMedal and the Legion of Merit.

From 1988-1990 I commanded  an Air Defense Battalion, the 4th  Bn 6th  ADA Bde, at Ft Bliss, TX, my unit supported military training in missile operations for 44 allied countries.  For this service, I received an additional Meritorious  Service Medal. 

My final years of military  service, 1992-2000, consisted of three back to back assignments with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and Office, Secretary of Defense as a Military and Defense Attaché and Military Advisor to eight U.S. Ambassadors at Embassies in Greece, Macedonia, and Cyprus. During this period our nation was involved in the Balkans Conflict and responding to enormous political and military changes throughout Europe and Eurasia following dissolution of the Soviet Union. Needless to say, these  were quite interesting  and challenging times to be working at these Embassies.   For my DIA service, I was awarded the Defense Superior Service and Defense  Meritorious Service Medals.

During my 32  year military service,  I attended and received degrees from numerous Military and Civilian schools. I retired as 06 in Washington, DC in  August 2000.