I was born in Falfurrias, Texas in 1952, a small rural agricultural community in South Texas with a population of 5,000.  Growing up in a small rural community in the 50s & 60s, family values and helping your neighbor were the utmost priority. My two sisters and I were raised by mother and my grandmother after my father died in an automobile accident when I was 3 years old. We grew up resilient and with a strong commitment to always look after one another, as well as our community neighbors.

I graduated Falfurrias High School and attended Texas A&M University, Kingsville, TX, earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology/Chemistry in 1975.  While I worked in the chemical industry for 8 years following graduation, I felt like I needed to make changes to further advance my career and decided to join the United States Army as a PFC in May 1983. I attended Airborne School and was assigned to 82th Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Two years later was accepted into Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning and commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in November 1985. 

I was assigned to various US Army Installations, including the Pentagon and deployments to Korea, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan, including 3 tours in war zones.  In 2009, I was offered early retirement in lieu of a 3rd overseas deployment to a war zone, however, I turned down the early retirement and deployed to Afghanistan due to the high costs of medical insurance facing early retirees. I retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in December 2012, ending a 30-year career with both active and reserve duty.

I am married to Carrie Hinojosa, also a military retiree.  I am also a father and grandfather.  I currently work part-time as a Security Officer for a Department of Defense aerospace contractor in Melbourne.