I was born and raised in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the fifth of six children in a family led by my Vietnam veteran father and my devoted, hardworking Christian mother. Both worked tirelessly to make ends meet. While we didn’t have the nicest house, the newest cars, or brand-name clothes, my parents provided so much more than material possessions.
We lived in an isolated, rural part of Orangeburg County, where life required perseverance, ingenuity, and hard work. Growing up in a setting where resources and services were limited taught us to solve problems independently and make the most of what we had. It instilled creativity, adaptability, and a strong sense of responsibility. Life wasn’t always easy, but what mattered most was that we always knew, without question, that we were deeply loved.
As a kid, I had plenty of potential and a drive to succeed. My ambition was reflected in my schoolwork—I was selected as a member of the National Honor Society and earned a spot at The Walker School for the Arts in Atlanta, GA. However, as I approached my senior year of high school, I realized that college wasn’t the path I wanted to take. I felt a strong calling to follow in the footsteps of my father and two older brothers by joining the military. To my mother’s dismay, I decided to enlist in the Army instead of pursuing higher education.
In 1995, at the age of 17, I joined the Army Delayed Entry Program as a Signal Support System Specialist, reporting for basic training in the summer of 1996. After completing rigorous training programs, including Airborne, Air Assault, and Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) School, I was assigned to the Long-Range Surveillance Detachments (LRSD) at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. It was there I met the love of my life and future wife, Kathy Nanette Antley.
In 2000, we moved from the island paradise to Fort Benning (now Fort Moore), Georgia, where I joined the Army’s premier direct-action raid force, the 75th Ranger Regiment. A year later, our son, Semaj, was born while I was deployed in the Mojave Desert. Shortly thereafter, the tragic events of September 11, 2001, unfolded, reshaping the nation and my career. The U.S. response was swift, involving military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria.
Over the years, I deployed multiple times in support of operations including Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Freedom’s Sentinel, and Inherent Resolve. Some of my most memorable deployments were alongside my older brothers—one in Afghanistan and two in Iraq. In 2006, our public affairs officer arranged for us to appear on Good Morning America for Thanksgiving, a moment made even more special by a video teleconference with our parents back home in South Carolina.
In 2010, my career took a pivotal turn when I was selected to support a special mission out of the National Capital Region. This opportunity allowed me to work with elite organizations, including JSOC, JCU, the White House Communications Agency, and the Secretary of Defense. I eventually retired after 24 years of service as the Senior Communications Noncommissioned Officer for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
As I approached retirement in 2019, an old acquaintance introduced me to Invictus International Consulting. I quickly realized that my experience and values aligned perfectly with the company. After meeting CEO Jim Kelly, I knew Invictus was where I belonged. His ability to connect personally and recognize talent stood out—he not only greeted me by name but had also taken the time to review my resume. Since joining Invictus, I’ve been continually challenged to grow, learning from a team of exceptional peers. After more than five years, I remain proud to be part of the “Spartan” family. Each year brings new opportunities for growth, and despite the company’s evolution, the incredible culture Jim Kelly established on my first day remains unchanged.