Many times I've attempted to write bio pages. Many times I've failed. It's difficult to know what to put about yourself, and what not to; what people are interested in, and what absolutely bores them to tears. So, in the interest of being somewhat entertaining, I'll keep all this short, and more or less to the point....

         I was born in California, but that's the extent of my West Coast experience. My family trekked east, following my father and his Naval career, to Clinton, Maryland, when I was two years old. We jumped across the Potomac River and into Manassas, Virginia, just before I turned nine. My parents are still there. I graduated from a geek school and then hoofed it north, far above Cayuga's Waters, for college.
       Leaving the Northeast, I shot down the coast to Pensacola, FL, to begin my own Naval career. I was fulfilling my role as the third generation of Smiths to enter the sea-going service - my grandfather was an enlisted SeaBee in World War II, my father spent 24 years as an officer, and now I'm in. ROTC helped me get my butter bars, as well as an appointment into the aviation community. I spent 3 months in Pensacola, in the Aviation Preflight Indoctrination program. My next stop was hell Corpus Christi, Texas, where I still am. I've been here for over a year, flying for about two-thirds of that time.
       I haven't been flying the whole time because I attrited from the program. The Navy and I both decided at about the same time that aviation wasn't for me; the Navy just did something about it first. For the last 4 months I've held several jobs in and around the Training Wing - Regatta Watchbill Co-ordinator, Assistant Student Control Officer, Assistant Safety Officer. I have an interview at the end of October for my transfer into the surface warfare community. Once again, I will enter into another training command.
       Outside of the Navy, I'm a life member of Alpha Phi Omega - Gamma Chapter (a co-ed community service fraternity) and an Eagle Scout from BSA Troop 35 (National Captial Area Council). I'm a guy who loves music - listening to, singing, performing, writing (lyrics mostly). I read as if I'm going to go blind tomorrow. I like to run, lift weights, and bicycle, but rowing will always be my first and one true love. Oh, and I have some computer skills.
       My life is drifting right now; when I get out of the Navy, I hope to get a job working for the State Department, dealing with international issues. I'm planning to start working on a Master's degree in political science, concentrating in international relations. I think I'll need to get another bachelor's degree, first, since my current one is in materials science and engineering. I hope one day to be a stateside diplomat; I want to be known as a statesman.
       Not a politican.
       A statesman.


fin - 18 october 2002