I grew up on a bit of a homestead in rural South Carolina, surrounded by my extended family. My 4th cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents all lived on the same land, creating a tight-knit community that shaped my upbringing. My childhood motto was simple: "I'm rough and tough and from Pomaria." To me, Pomaria was the whole world, and it was the perfect place to grow up.
My father’s family came from a long line of homesteaders and farmers. They lived off the grid well into my father’s childhood, growing their own food and making do without electricity. My grandmother was the first in the family to step away from farming by taking a job at the county courthouse. Growing up, I witnessed firsthand the value of hard work. But even as a kid, I sometimes found myself stepping back, looking for a better, more efficient way to do things—a perspective that often surprised the older generations but soon became appreciated. I was the second youngest of five grandchildren, and every male role model was older than me. Despite this, I carried my weight, and it taught me how to lead diplomatically, even when I was the youngest in the room.
My mother's family had a very different story. Her father was a Vietnam War veteran who served three tours. Tragically, his entire platoon was killed in a late-night explosion, shortly after he had taken over watch from an 18-year-old boy who had fallen asleep. He returned from the war deeply affected, often relying on alcohol to cope with his experiences. He also came back missing a leg and a finger, and his struggles left a lasting impact on my mother's family. Though I didn't know him well, I've always felt a connection to him through the stories I've heard, and I sense that his spirit lives on in me. My grandmother, on the other hand, was a remarkable woman—strong, kind, and resilient. She was one of the kindest souls I've ever known, and I miss her deeply. I am forever grateful for the sacrifices and opportunities that my grandparents provided, which have allowed me to be where I am today.
A significant part of my life was spent in the Boy Scouts, and my experience with Troop 76 is something I still cherish. Our troop wasn't your average one; we were farm kids, roughnecks, and hands-on learners. We didn’t just learn skills—we refined the ones we were already familiar with, from lashing and plant identification to rifle shooting and archery. Our meetings were held in a 200-year-old schoolhouse, with a single light bulb illuminating the room. Regardless of the season, we met there every Monday, playing capture the flag in winter and kickball in summer. Almost every adult male in our church and the surrounding community had been an Eagle Scout with Troop 76. Our leaders weren’t just rural Americans; one was a finance wizard from The Citadel, and the other was one of the smartest engineers I’ve ever met. They, along with other Eagle Scouts who returned to guide us, were instrumental in my growth. When we went to camporees, we dominated. The world outside Pomaria might have been changing, but we stayed true to who we were—we loved learning, camping, hiking, and ultimately winning. More importantly, we were learning to be men, guided not just by the laws of man, but also by the laws of God and nature.
In the 10th grade, I had the opportunity to go on a trip called Teens Westward Bound. My parents helped me raise the money, and I, along with 81 other teenagers from the Carolinas, boarded a bus and camped across the United States for 30 days. We hiked the Grand Canyon, rode the Ferris wheel in Santa Monica, breathed in the air of the Redwoods, and marveled at the beauty of the Grand Tetons. This journey opened my mind and changed my perspective. I was no longer just aware of Pomaria—I saw the possibilities that existed beyond it. But at the same time, it made me appreciate the slice of the world that God had carved out for me even more.
To this day, my dad, my brother, and I maintain our 90 acres of heaven on earth. We grow vegetables, save seeds, operate a greenhouse nursery full of local plants, and raise cattle, hogs, sheep, and chickens in quantities large enough to feed ourselves and sell to the public. I also helped my brother build a sustainable farm from the ground up, based on principles similar to those of Joel Salatin, after years of timber growth. My experience working with heavy equipment started there, as I helped my brother with his land-clearing business and grew up helping my father with his lawncare and landscaping company. I’m a mechanic by nature, and I’ve been engineering things long before I knew an engineer could be anything other than a train conductor.
After high school, I went to a technical college for Industrial Electronics. I quickly realized that I had a natural affinity for electricity. It was at tech school that I really learned about electrical systems and computers. Before that, I had only used a computer for AutoCAD or in the school computer lab. I decided to attend Clemson University, initially considering a major in Business or Agricultural Mechanization. I spoke with an advisor, and she saw something in me that I hadn’t yet recognized. She encouraged me to speak with two people—one an Ag Mech graduate and the other an Electrical Engineer from a rural town like mine. After those conversations, I knew I wanted to learn about the world in full, and I chose Electrical Engineering.
For me, college was an uphill battle. The calculus classes I had aced in high school seemed distant, and I had to start from scratch. Every day, I would head to the library at 8 a.m., claim a spot before the tables filled up, and establish my makeshift office. I attended the classes that required attendance, and for the others, I stayed in the library. If the lecturer wasn’t good, I knew I was better off studying on my own, crushing a NOS energy drink, and pushing through until 3 a.m. with my headphones on. It took two years, but I finally caught up with my classmates in all things calculus, eventually passing Calculus IV with an A.
After catching up, I pushed myself even harder. I joined Creative Inquiry projects in the Mechanical Engineering department and took every opportunity to learn. During my time at Clemson, I lived with six other people—all Ag majors from back home—and we became a family. Our duplex was a constant party, with a revolving door of people. Despite the distractions, I managed to balance my social life with my academics, often studying in my room late into the night while the party raged on just outside. I’d step out for a few minutes, socialize, and then get back to my books. I learned that I thrived in chaotic environments—something about the energy of a busy space helped me focus, even with ADHD. It wasn’t always easy, but it was worth it.
My professional journey began after graduating from Clemson. I started working in Electrical Design and Project Management, with roles at Crow Engineering, REI Automation, and the Naval Information Warfare Center. I designed complex electrical systems, led multidisciplinary teams, and found that the hands-on problem-solving skills I had learned growing up were invaluable. I loved every moment, from drafting designs to seeing them come to life.
Outside of work, I have a wide range of hobbies that keep me busy. I enjoy hands-on projects—whether it's using my 3D printers for home projects, fixing and selling jon boats, or renovating houses that I now rent out. I've built various robots, developed control systems for greenhouses, and even created a homemade hydro generator for the creek at the back of my family's property. When I was about 13, I built a pontoon boat from scratch using 55-gallon drums, and those welds are still airtight to this day. I can't remember a time when I wasn't dreaming up something new to build—though not all of those dreams came to fruition due to time or resource constraints. My hobbies are a testament to my love for creating, innovating, and problem-solving, and they remain a big part of who I am.
Through everything, my guiding philosophy has always been that real-world experience and practical skills are just as important as formal education. Growing up in Pomaria, I learned the value of hard work, community, and resourcefulness. These values have shaped me into the engineer I am today—one who is adaptable, hands-on, and always ready to tackle the next challenge. My passion lies in combining creativity with technical knowledge to solve complex problems, and that’s a philosophy I carry with me every day, in both my work and my life.