I always say that, if you’ve seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding, you know the story of my life. It's not fiction. It is a documentary. But, in case you need a bit more context, I’ll start from the top.

I was born at Mercy Hospital in Denver, and I grew up in Wheat Ridge. My father, who emigrated from Greece as an adult, was a small business owner, owning and operating the Wheat Ridge landmark, The Apple Ridge Café. He was a restaurateur, as many Greek immigrants were at that time. My mother was born and raised in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, and also immigrated to the U.S. as an adult. She worked alongside my father, serving many roles at his various restaurants, from hostess to decorator to operations manager. As my parents like to say, they are Americans by choice, not by chance.

Since my parents worked long hours and rarely took a day off, my grandmother, affectionately known as “Yia-Yia,” came to Colorado from Greece to accept the daunting responsibility of day-to-day care for my five younger siblings and me. God bless her, despite being well into her seventies, standing five feet tall, and speaking no English, she managed to keep all six of us from causing too much trouble.

I am a product of Jefferson County Public Schools, having attended Prospect Valley Elementary School, Everitt Middle School, and Wheat Ridge High School. During my years at the University of Colorado at Boulder, I interned for Senator Wayne Allard in Washington, DC, working in the Senate Armed Services Committee section of his staff. I went on to graduate from CU in 2002 with a B.A. in Political Science. In December of that year, I was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry.

Upon joining the Army, my initial assignment was with the 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson. I served as a Bradley Infantry Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Transition Team Operations Advisor. My position as an advisor was a perfect fit for me, and I volunteered to deploy again in that role, serving with the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas.

In 2009, I married my childhood friend, Ashley, a University of Colorado School of Law graduate. She jumped right into life as an Army wife, leading our Family Readiness Group, chairing a memorial committee for soldiers lost during our deployment, and agreeing to move around the country by my side. During this time, I commanded Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment in 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Upon leaving Hawaii, I had served four tours in Iraq:

Operation Iraqi Freedom – 2003-2004
Operation Iraqi Freedom – 2005-2006
Operation Iraqi Freedom – 2008-2009
Operation Iraqi Freedom / Operation New Dawn – 2010-2011

After returning from Iraq in 2011, I was assigned to the United States Army Recruiting Command in Portland, Oregon, where I served as the Wilsonville Company Commander. This station holds a special place in my heart, as Ashley and I were blessed with the birth of our awesome Twinadoes, Jack and Luke, in January 2012. Talk about life changing.

In 2013, I was accepted to the United States Army’s prestigious Asymmetric Warfare Group, headquartered at Fort Meade, Maryland. Though I did not know it at the time, AWG would be my last operational assignment.

Unexpectedly, in 2014, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Since MS does not run in my family, I am left to conclude, comically, that Iraq is bad for one's health. While my prognosis is, thankfully, quite good, this diagnosis provided a stark reminder to value every day. There is no time to put off my true calling: to continue to serve my country and to represent the people of my native and beloved Colorado through political office.

Any veteran who has gone down the road of medical retirement can attest to the complicated, bureaucratic, nonsensical nature of the process. I started the retirement process at Fort Meade, then moved through the Warrior Transition Battalion at Fort Carson before finally being medically retired in February of 2016. While I was waiting for the Army to finalize my retirement, I enrolled in the Stanford University Advanced Program Management Certification Program.

Looking back, I returned to Colorado with a heavy heart. When I left my home state thirteen years before, I wanted to change the world. I was determined to make a difference. I certainly never intended to leave the military without completing the task at hand. Like many Americans, I remember exactly where I was and what happened, minute-by-minute, on September 11th. It cemented my decision to join the Army and to give all of myself to defending freedom. Though my retirement orders are in the books, I find it hard to believe that the fight will continue without me. And, I find it hard to stomach that other men and women will be asked to fight, to sacrifice, and I will not be able to go with them.

The past few years have made me reflect on the legacy I am going to leave to my sons. Like any parent, I am concerned about their education, their security, and the country I will leave behind for them and for their children. I have spent my career striving to make the world a better, safer place. Now, I’ve stood down from the front lines, but I have not left the fight. I am ready for the fight of my life: to ensure a better future for my sons, for your children, and for the Republic.