 He was born in Atlanta, Georgia, graduated from Avondale High School in 1965, and is the oldest of five.He has a wife and two daughters.His command experience includes Commander, Combat Support Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division in Germany; Commander, Headquarters and Special Troops Battalion, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and Operation Golden Pheasant, Honduras; Commander, 3rd Battalion, 5th Cavalry, 3rd Armored Division, in Germany and the Gulf War, Saudi Arabia; Commander, 1st Brigade, 24th Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia, and Operation Vigilant Warrior, Kuwait; and Commander, United States Army Alaska.