I was born in the small farming community of Red Oak, located in southwest Iowa. When I was two years old, in February of 1992, my family moved to Shakopee. I grew up in Shakopee, Savage, and Prior Lake until I graduated from Burnsville High School in 2008.

Two weeks after graduation, I left for Marine Corps Boot Camp at MCRD San Diego. My primary job was as a motor transport operator, or simply a truck driver. I was stationed in Iwakuni, Japan, but traveled throughout Southeast Asia on humanitarian relief missions and community relations projects, as well as deterring military threats from North Korea. I also spent time at duty stations in California, North Carolina, Missouri, and Hawaii.

I was Honorably Discharged after four years of active duty and returned home to Prior Lake. I attended the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science. From there, I was accepted at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, where I completed a dual Juris Doctor and Master of Public Policy.

As a law student, I was hired by the Scott County Public Defender’s office as a law clerk. After this clerkship ended, I transitioned to the Scott County Attorney’s Office and the Minneapolis City Attorney’s Office. While clerking as a law student in Scott County, I was given the opportunity to spearhead the creation of the Scott County Veterans Treatment Court.

I gathered stakeholders from agencies throughout the county and from outside agencies, such as the Department of Veterans Affairs, and formed a committee to create the program's policies and procedures. I also co-authored the federal grant application that resulted in a $400,000 award to establish the program. Following our presentation to the county board, the program was unanimously approved.

After graduating from law school, I began working full-time at the Scott County Attorney’s Office as a prosecutor in the Juvenile Division. In addition to my responsibilities in Veterans Court, my caseload consisted of crimes ranging from petty tobacco possession to serious felony sex crimes. I eventually transitioned to the adult criminal division, where I prosecuted misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor offenses.

After leaving the Scott County Attorney’s Office, I began working at Hennepin County Adult Representation Services, which represents indigent clients facing civil matters such as eviction and child protection cases. I am now employed as an Assistant County Attorney in the Child Protection Division of the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.

I currently live in Savage with my wife, two children, and our German Shepherd, Count Dooku (AKA Duke). I coach our 5th grader in Prior Lake in-house baseball and still try to play softball myself in between injuries. We love watching our local Minnesota sports teams, taking our dog to local breweries, and being outside whenever Minnesota weather allows. I’ve lived in this community most of my life and have had the privilege to serve it as an Assistant County Attorney. I look forward to an opportunity to continue giving back to the community that has given me so much.