TYRON VAN GADSDEN, better know as “Ty” by his family and “Big Daddy” by his close friends, was born in Charleston, SC on September 17th, 1972. He was rared in a popular Charlestonian neighborhood called Ashleyville. Growing up as a little lad he began his thirst for knowledge from St. Andrews Elementary School and then from C.E. Williams Middle School. As a child, Ty played various sports at St. Andrews Park and Playground, from his favorite, football to basketball and baseball. Teachers must have thought he had what it took to become a high school student so then he was promoted and sent on to higher learning at Middleton High School. There he became better at the sport and played and was a letterman in both junior varsity and varsity football as a half back (running back to you non football fans) as well as participating in many events on the track and field team.
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After all the sports, he found time to finally study and learn something other than “down set hut, hut”. Ty graduated Middleton High School in May of 1991. He then matriculated to South Carolina State University (Home of the mighty might Bulldogs). During his 5 year stay there, he joined a group of distinguished men in spring of 1993 and pledged the first black greek fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. (AfA). He was also a member of the NAACP as well as the National Society of Black Engineers. While still in college, he joined the United States Coast Guard in Cape May, New Jersey and received a two year scholarship in the summer of 1994. He soon graduated from South Carolina State University with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Industrial Engineering in May of 1996 in the top three of the graduating Industrial Engineers.
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Upon graduating, one week later Ty found himself at Officer Candidate School (OCS) located in Yorktown, Virginia where he received his Commission as an Officer in the United States Coast Guard in September of 1996. The Coast Guard then transferred him to the beautiful city of Houston, Texas where he was in charge of Port Operations as well as being an independent resident Marine Vessel Inspector. Ty also began his graduate level studies at the University of Houston. Sometime during his 5-year stay in Houston, he found a wonderful, ravishing and beautiful female named Shawndre. After he razzled and dazzled her off of her feet he presented her with an engagement ring and made her his wife to be. Ty is currently back in Yorktown, Virginia where he is attached to the United States Coast Guard International Training Division as the Officer in Charge of various training teams that deploy around the world.
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