the Real Maverick: ORAM for Congress

I moved to Northwest Florida in 1974, when my father, a Navy radioman, retired from the Navy.  I graduated from Pensacola's Washington High School and the U.S. Naval Academy.  I returned to the area for flight training and served as a Navy pilot until 1989. 

 

In 1985 I married a Navy helicopter pilot. Her last assignment was as the Executive Officer at NAS Whiting Field. (Sadly we divorced in 2018.)

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Serving in the military, I have moved around quite a bit, and I am glad to be home.

 

After leaving the Navy I went back to school and I am now an attorney. 

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I have worked in private practice, as a federal regulatory analyst, and as a Rule of Law Advisor to the U.S.  government in Ukraine (my ex-wife was assigned as the Naval Attaché to the U.S.  Embassy). (See more details below.)

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(Interesting trivia, my Forest Gump moment:

In 1997-1998, I worked for a company that did technical and legal work for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). One of the projects I was assigned was to develop & promulgate "regulations governing the reentry phase of launch vehicle and spacecraft operations."  The work required contracting with a company to identify "the technical issues associated with regulating the reentry phase of launch and space vehicle operations and develop technical specifications appropriate for regulations that will protect the public safety without overly constraining the commercial development of space".  I worked on the project with an engineer from The Aerospace Corporation.

Recently I wondered what that engineer thought of the SpaceX’s first human commercial spaceflight. Turns out she is now the president and chief operating officer of SpaceX!)

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The main reason I am running for Congress is for the future.  People of my generation inherited a great country from our parents and grandparents.  Not perfect – we have problems – but we have always been able to solve those problems through dialogue and debate. 

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It is a great country, and if you don’t believe me then visit Eastern Europe, SE Asia, Africa or the Middle East.

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Now, however, we have partisan politics and gridlock in Washington.

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Politicians are too lazy to lead, and pander to fear, anger & hatred. They blame others for problems -- instead of taking responsibility to solve them. 

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They criticize and vilify those who do not agree with them -- instead of building consensus and alliances for change.

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I think we can do better. 

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As your representative in Washington, DC, I have established the following goals:

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• Eradicate COVID-19

• Fight for Liberty & JUSTICE to All

• Protect Social Security

• Fix Health Care

• Restore Respect for the Military

• Reform Government

• Balance the Budget

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DETAILS

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EDUCATION

National Foreign Affairs Training Center, Arlington, VA
Russian Language and Ukrainian Area Studies, 1999

California Western School of Law, San Diego, CA
Juris Doctorate Magna Cum Laude, 1992; Rank 8/258

U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD
Aerospace Engineering, 1981

EXPERIENCE

Private Practice, Pensacola, FL - Practice areas included criminal defense, family law, general civil litigation, estate planning and probate.

Assistant Public Defender, Pensacola, FL - Aggressively represented indigent criminal defendants, responsible for between 80-100 cases/month, from intake to appeal.  

Rule of Law Advisor, USAID, Kiev, Ukraine - Designed, managed, and evaluated U.S. Government assistance programs for Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus in the following areas: judicial strengthening, legislative strengthening and reform, protection of citizen's rights, independent media, and anti-corruption.

Federal Regulatory Analyst, Phaneuf Associates Inc., Washington DC - Analyzed issues related to commercial aviation and space transportation and developed regulatory documents, such as rules, advisory circulars, and orders.

Private Practice, Sicily, Italy - Provided legal services to active duty military and federal civilian personnel and their families.

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Central Texas College and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Sicily, Italy - Organized curricula, prepared lesson plans and taught various college courses, including: Basic Aerodynamics, Aviation Regulations, Aviation Law, Aviation Insurance, and Aviation Labor Relations

Law Clerk/Extern - California Court of Appeal, Dist. 4, Div. 1 and San Diego Appellate Defenders, San Diego, CA.

Lieutenant, United States Navy - positions included Aide/Flag Lieutenant to a Navy Rear Admiral, Naval Aviator, and Legal Officer

Navy Pilot - Assigned duties as Schedules Officer, NATOPS Officer, and Flight Officer. Qualified P-3B/C Mission Commander, Patrol Plane Commander, Instructor Pilot, Instrument Check Pilot, Maintenance Check Pilot, and Simulator Instructor. Distinguished graduate of U.S. Navy pilot training program. Received Advanced Maritime Training in the P-3; Advance Multiengine Training in the T-44A; and Primary and Intermediate Flight Training in the T-28B.

PROFESSIONAL

Member in Good Standing
Florida State Bar (admitted 2002),
Virginia State Bar (admitted 1993, currently associate status), and
State Bar of California (admitted 1993, currently inactive status).

AVIATION CERTIFICATIONS

Commercial Pilot
Single & Multiengine Land, Instrument Rated
Flight Engineer (FEX) Written (1989)