Figuring out what you're good at—what really makes you tick—can be a winding road. For me, that road led me straight to the Horn of Africa, to a deployment with Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA). And let me tell you, it wasn't the path I expected.
I joined the Army National Guard out of Flagstaff, Arizona, as a horizontal construction engineer. I'd been around the military most of my life, and I was ready to build something—literally. I thought I knew what I was getting into.
But the military, as they say, works in mysterious ways. Next thing I know, I'm deployed to CJTF-HOA, working in the strategy and plans section as a foreign liaison office coordinator.
Honestly, at first, I wasn't sure how to feel. I was an engineer, trained to work with concrete and steel, not diplomacy and international relations. But then something interesting happened. I started to really enjoy the work.
The interactions with our foreign partners, the challenge of building lasting relationships—it sparked something in me I didn't know was there. We're all on the same team, working towards common goals, and those connections matter.
“It’s the coolest and most rewarding piece,” I found myself saying to anyone who would listen. "It's something I never thought I'd do in my career, especially as an engineer."
And it wasn't just the behind-the-scenes work. I discovered a surprising love for public speaking and engagements. Who knew? Me, standing up there, talking to groups of people, feeling energized and in my element.
This deployment got me thinking about my future, about where I want to go next. This whole experience has unlocked a passion I didn't even know I had. Turns out, building bridges can take many forms.
