UWF degree and year of graduation: 
BS Computer Science: Computer Information Systems, ’93

As you look back at your days at UWF, describe your best memory.
I remember several instructors that were very good, but Jeremy Jones was one of the best. He passed away a few years ago, but he always took a tremendous amount of time with his students and showed a true and genuine concern for their well-being.

While you were at UWF, what did you think was its most outstanding and/or unique quality?
I had a number of very good instructors and that, combined with small class sizes, made for a truly effective learning experience.

As you reflect, did your education at UWF have an impact on where you are today?
Yes, it helped tremendously by providing me the core fundamentals that were needed to pursue and secure a professional level job in the computing industry. My UWF education provided me with the basic foundations of software programming, software engineering, computing principles and other related computing fundamentals that allowed me to be hired into a professional software engineering position. From there, I have been able to consistently advance through various levels of technical and management positions.
 
Describe what you do/did professionally including the type of company you work for.
I am the chief operations officer for HX5, a professional services company specializing in providing technical, management and business services to the U.S. Department of Defense and other federal agencies. I am responsible for ensuring effective execution across all areas of the company, including directing and allocating the company’s resources. As a senior member of the executive management team, I take an active and leading role in contributing to all areas of responsibility across the company’s operations on a daily basis.

My professional career spans 16 years, focused primarily in the Programmatic Support and Information Technology/Engineering Services industry serving the U.S. Department of Defense and related federal agencies.

What advice would you give students today who were looking at studying one of the disciplines in the School of Science and Engineering? 
To me, I cannot think of a better program to get into at this time. The advancements being made today in science and technology are affording us opportunities to pursue and develop ideas and concepts that would never have been possible to investigate 10 or more years ago. I believe that math, physics, computer science and electrical and computer engineering will continue to play leading roles in the most important advancements being made across all areas of industry, not only in the U.S., but across the globe. I believe that a student who selects one of these disciplines, perseveres through to completion and does good work in their selected field will find it to be very rewarding in a number of ways, including personally, professionally and financially.