100,000 soldiers. 12 hours. 23,000 casualties. These numbers only begin to tell the story of what became the bloodiest one-day battle in American history – the Battle of Antietam. My passion for the American Civil War, and history in general, lies in creating a connection between the stories of the past and current generations. I was born and raised in Arizona but developed a strong interest in the Civil War at the age of 10. While most of my classmates asked for money, CD players, and a trip to Disney World for their 8th Grade graduation, I asked for a trip to Civil War battlefields, and at age 13 I visited Antietam, Gettysburg, and many other battlefields, for the very first time.

It’s been many years since that first visit, but my desire to visit our country’s battlefields is as strong today as it was when I was 13. Life took me in many different directions along the way, including service in the United States Marine Corps, a BA in History, a beautiful wife and four amazing children, and a career with the National Park Service. After spending three years at Zion National Park, it was my extreme honor to spend nearly nine years as an Interpretive Ranger at Antietam National Battlefield. In late 2023, new challenges called my name, and I now work as an Architectural Historian for the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Training Center, working on projects around the country geared toward saving our country’s most treasured historic sites.

My goal in becoming a guide is to share that passion I had as a 13-year-old, begging my parents to drive me across a continent, in search of the soldiers, civilians, generals, and families, Americans of every race, color and creed, whose actions I had read so much about. There is more to understand about the twelve hours of the Battle of Antietam than any one person can learn in a lifetime, and definitely more than we can discuss in one battlefield tour, but my hope is to create a new appreciation of this great battle for every visitor to Antietam. Whether it’s your first time to Antietam or your twentieth, there is always more to learn, new concepts to consider, and more stories of honor, courage, and commitment, to discover. I look forward to taking that journey with you and sharing my passion along the way. Thank you.