Candidate for
Director; San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District; District 5

Before joining the Board, I was a BART Safety Specialist for six years where he facilitated disaster response training with public safety agencies within the BART service area. I also planned and conducted regional disaster exercises between BART Emergency Operations Center staff and agencies at the state, county and local levels.

I have brought a strong background in Emergency Management and leadership to the BART Board; I retired as a Battalion Chief from the Oakland Fire Department after 25 years of service where I was responsible for the mitigation of emergencies of every kind throughout the city. Additionally, I served as the Emergency Medical Services Manager and was a member of the Federal "Urban Search and Rescue Task Force" and I also teach emergency command and operations courses at local community colleges.

I am a Combat Veteran, having served over seven years and two Vietnam tours on Active Duty before joining the Reserves where I continued to serve in a multitude of command and staff assignments. I was mobilized several times, including for Desert Storm, and retired in 1999 after 36 years of service, having risen from the rank of Private to Colonel. My decorations are numerous and include, in part, the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal and Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.

I have been an community volunteer for my entire adult life. Most notable among the organizations I have and do support include being on the Governor's California Seismic Safety Commission in 2010-2011, being a member of the Alameda County Emergency Managers Association, the national Disaster Medical Assistance Team responding to events like Hurricane Katrina, the Alameda County Sheriff's Underwater Dive Unit and the Castro Valley Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9601.

I hold a B.A. from St. Mary's in Moraga, an M.P.A. from Cal State East Bay, am a "Command and General Staff College" graduate from the U.S. Army and hold a number of technical degrees in management and emergency/disaster operations.