A graduate of the University of Illinois-Chicago, John was commissioned through OCS in 1982. A qualified Surface Warfare Officer, he has served on USS New Orleans (LPH-11), USS Reeves (CG-24), USS Waddell (DDG-24), Destroyer Squadron Seven, USS Ranger (CV-61), USS Constellation (CV-64), and USS Thach (FFG-43). He has also served in two Navy Training Commands and graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. He is a qualified Joint Specialty Officer.

After retirement, he was a city planner for 15 years of two suburbs of San Diego, CA. Relocating to WNC in 2022, he and his wife Stephanie live in Waynesville, NC. We share a house with an Alaskan Malamute, LOKI and spend our time exploring the geography and geology of the area.