I was born, raised, and educated in California. I received both my Bachelors (Biochemistry) and Masters Degrees (Chemistry) from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. I earned my Doctorate in Chemistry from the University of California, Santa Cruz. My thesis research focused on the chemical investigation of soft-bodied marine organisms looking for biologically active compounds. I then headed to Florida and spent two years as a National Institute of Health Postdoctoral Fellow at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution. Upon completion of the post-doc, I accepted a full-time faculty position at Gordon College, a two-year school which was part of the University of Georgia system, located in Barnesville Georgia. Two years later I returned to beautiful Florida and my current position here at IRCC.

My wife and I have been married for 21 years and have two wonderful daughters, Brittney, a junior at Vero Beach HS and Rozlynn who is in the 7^th grade at Oslo Middle School. In my spare time I enjoy softball, swimming, and chaperoning school functions.