As a graduate of Hales Franciscan High School, class of 1966, I rose to prominence both personally and professionally, but not before serving my country in the Republic of Vietnam as a Reconnaissance Specialist in the U.S. Marine Corp. Following my honorable discharge, I was selected to join the Chicago Police Department as a well-qualified candidate. Upon graduating from the police academy at the top 5% of my class, I served in specialized units within the department as I constantly challenged myself to be the best. After serving 20 years in the department, I was selected by the Mayor of Chicago in 1990 to head up the mayor’s gang program as I was expected to turn around an existing program that was failing. After only two years, I established myself as a true leader, redesigned the program, and brought it to state-wide acclaim.
After fulfilling that obligation, I was promoted to the position of city Commissioner again by the Mayor of Chicago, as I joined the ranks of the Department of Aviation that I held for nine years and moved on to the Department of Human Services and finally, the Department of General Services therein ending my career with the city after 34 years of dedicated service in 2004.
During my working career, I secured an academic posture that awarded me post-graduate degrees with an academic specialty in Behavioral Psychology. Using these credited achievements, I am now a published author and a certified professional speaker lecturing around the country on various topics, all highlighted by nontraditional thinking strategies, tactics on leadership, and promoting my books. In addition, I continue to give back and offer my services to struggling war veterans, misguided youth, and adults who feel they know everything.