Raised in Virginia in a very conservative family. Graduated from Hickory High School in Chesapeake, VA, in 2001, and attended Old Dominion University from 2002-2003. Recieved an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point and entered it in 2003. Majored in European History (Ancient Greece) and participated with Crew and the Creative Writing Forum, winning an award in 2005. Graduated in 2007, comissioned into the Ordnance Corps. Currently living in Florida.