After graduating high school in 1966, I went directly into the Marine Corps. I started my career by going directly to Vietnam, where I was wounded in action. I ended my two enlistments as a drill instructor and was honorably discharged as a sergeant in June of 1972. I entered into a decade-long stint in the business world. I became a police officer in 1982 with the Charleston County Police Department and attended college while working full time. After spending the majority of my career working criminal investigations or narcotics and rising to the rank of lieutenant, I resigned in 2000 to become the assistant chief of police at the Isle of Palms Police Department, retiring eleven and one half years later. I am happily married to my wife Paula, and have four grown children and seven grandchildren.