I was born in Brooklyn, NY. I attended USNA as a consequence of an F in my eighth grade shop class in Texas where I lived for one year. The shop teacher told me that I could not make a hope chest for my girlfriend, so I didn’t make anything. Upon returning to NYC, I decided to apply to my brother’s school, Aviation HS, which was a vocational school. I figured that I could pick up a trade, join a union, and live the NYC life. After a meeting with the HS guidance counselor, I was told that I was denied admission because of my shop grade; I had to attend the local academic high school. During my senior year, I applied for the NYC Police Academy, but USNA had prettier uniforms.

After graduation, I went to NFO school at Pensacola, then to Corpus Christi where I received my NFO wings. My first squadron was VP-50 at Moffett Field, CA. While there, I married my second class ring dance date, Fran Kiszkiel, a lovely bank teller from NYC. After my tour, the detailer recommended graduate school at Monterey. I chose to receive my master’s degree in Computer Science because all the other degree programs appeared very difficult. My next tour was a systems analyst at the Washington Navy yard, then to the Coral Sea (CV-43) at Alameda, CA, as a Tactical Action Officer. While there, Fran and I became the proud parents of their lovely daughter, Gina. Following assignments included VP-6 at Barbers Point, HI, technology planning at the Navy Annex, and the final tour back at USNA as a computer science instructor. When I retired in 1990 at the USNA, I was no longer qualified to be an instructor, as civilians require a PhD…some say I was not qualified when I was a military officer.

I started up my own computer company for seven years in Springfield, VA. In 1997, the assistant principal at the local elementary school offered me a job as a technology resource teacher. I asked Fran, who said “Heck, Yes!” After three years of taking various education classes and abstract algebra (not a good class to take when chapter zero contains all the prerequisites and symbols that I learned 30 years ago and quickly forgot), I received my teaching certificate; I am still there. Fran is at the local middle school as the principal’s administration assistant, and Gina is at an elementary school as a special education teacher. The whole family is on the dole with Fairfax County Schools. Gina married Jared in 2007 followed by the birth of Jackson (Class of ’31) in May, 2009, Fran and I have assumed the additional duties of grandparents. Jackson calls me “The Grand Poobah” (lord of everything). At one month old, Jackson was left in my care for two hours. How much trouble can an old man and a one month baby get into in two hours?... a lot, but my word limit has been reached.