Let me first tell you a little about myself. I’m currently a resident of Huntingtown in Calvert County, Maryland, and my family and I have lived here for over six years. We came here in the summer of 2001 to answer a call to duty, just as we had in our previous five moves as a family. I received a presidential appointment to the newly elected Bush Administration following more than nine years as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Air Force and more than eight years in the private sector as an information technology professional and manager. I began my service with the Federal Emergency Management Agency as their chief information officer and, by the time I completed three years with the Administration, I had helped to establish the Department of Homeland Security and was one of the charter members of the department when it stood up in the winter of 2003. I also helped the U.S. Small Business Administration improve its delivery of services to small businesses over the Internet.

I returned to the private sector in 2004 as a senior technology executive for a professional services firm in Arlington, Virginia, where I supported federal homeland security programs on my firm's behalf. After that, I joined the American Red Cross as a senior director for technology strategy management. I followed my Red Cross experience with stints as a managing director for a small technology and management consulting firm in Reston, Virginia and homeland security subject matter expert for a global technology firm in Herndon, Virginia. I also established my own consulting practice, 5M Consulting Services, LLC to help public sector and non-profit organizations establish strategies and governance for more effective decision-making and better stewardship to enhance the public trust.

While I’ve had a passion for politics since I was a child, I ran for public office for the first time in 2006, initially seeking the 5th District seat in the U.S. Congress and subsequently filing for the District 27 Maryland Senate seat at the request of then-Governor Ehrlich. I didn’t win but I learned a great deal about politics and myself, and I am confident that this is only the beginning.
What else can I tell you about myself? Let’s see…

• The most important thing in my life is to be used by God to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
• I attend Chesapeake Church in Huntingtown and I’m active in our music ministry as a singer. I also helped to start a new men’s ministry that brings men together for community service, fellowship with one another and personal growth as followers of Christ.
• I’m the president of the board of directors for the Southern Maryland College Access Network (SoMD CAN), a non-profit organization that provides post-secondary education advice and assistance primarily to first-generation post-secondary school prospects and minority or low-income students in the tri-county region.
• I am a principal and CIO-SAGE (Chief Information Officer – Senior Advisor to Government Executives) with the Council for Excellence in Government.
• I’m the communications director for the Calvert County Republican Central Committee.
• I’m an associate member of the Republican Women Leaders of Calvert and the Republican Women of Southern Calvert.
• I’m a member of the Calvert County Minority Business Alliance.
• I’m a major pro football fan and, while I’ve adopted the local teams, I still have a soft spot for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after living in Tampa for three years.
• I’ve been a Republican since 1978, when I was a student at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, working as a volunteer for the congressional campaign of a young newlywed named George W. Bush.
• I was the Texas Tech chairman for “George Bush for President” (that’s George H.W. Bush) in 1980.
• I was the vice-chairman of the College Republicans of Texas in 1980 and 1981 and, as far as I know, the first black student elected to a senior leadership role in the state College Republican organization.
• I have been married to the same woman, my wife Annik, for 24 years, which is more of a tribute to her perseverance than mine! We have three children, Amanda, Briana and Colin. It’s purely a coincidence that the first letters of their first names equal “ABC!”
• Annik (pronounced ah-NEEK) is a native of Hegenheim, France.
• My father was also in the U.S. Air Force and between his travels and mine, I’ve lived in twelve states (Louisiana, Alaska, Indiana, Idaho, New Mexico, Texas, New York, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Florida and Maryland) and three foreign countries (Japan, Spain and Germany).
• I was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, my mother’s hometown. My mom and dad and at least two of my siblings and their families live there today.
• During my nine years plus with the U.S. Air Force, I attained the rank of Captain and was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal and two Meritorious Service Medals
• Despite my lengthy technology resume, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in international relations from Troy State University’s European extension program. I guess that makes me a geek with a political opinion – how dangerous is that?

I appreciate you taking the time to get to know me a little better. This site is dedicated to YOU and your passion for a better Maryland. Thanks for joining the team!