Who I am

I am Joe, a Business Administration student at Middle Tennessee State University with minors in Economics and Finance, and Military Science. I serve in the Tennessee Army National Guard and I train with MTSU ROTC. I also work full time while attending school full time. The schedule is busy and it has shaped how I plan, lead, and finish what I start.

School
Middle Tennessee State University
Degree
B.B.A. in Business Administration in progress
Minors
Economics and Finance; Military Science
Service
Tennessee Army National Guard, since 2015
Duty position
Team Leader
Target graduation
May 2028
Next step
Seek an Active Duty commission; or lead in the corporate world
Leadership Operations Training Management Planning Investigations Customer Experience Finance Basics Storytelling

My path

I enlisted in 2015 as a Military Police soldier. I grew into leadership at the team level and I have covered acting duties at higher levels when needed. I completed Military Police Investigator training for non felony investigations and Special Response Team training for high risk situations on military installations. I have coordinated large training events as a Company Assistant S 3. That work included planning and running the Army Combat Fitness Test for a company that was spread across multiple countries.

I deployed to Guantanamo Bay in 2020 to 2021. I deployed to Eastern Europe in 2022 to 2023. Those experiences taught me to lead across cultures, to operate with limited resources, and to keep standards high in difficult conditions. Back home, I balance study, work at Trader Joe's in Murfreesboro, and ongoing service. The mix sharpened my time management, team communication, and follow through.

I added journalism coursework to improve how I communicate. The goal is simple. Think clearly. Write clearly. Present ideas with accuracy and context. The result is a toolkit that blends business fundamentals, military leadership, and creative storytelling. It fits an Active Duty path. It also fits a civilian track where clear thinking and clear writing matter.

Civilian experience

Outside of the Guard I have worked in law enforcement, retail, and technical installation. I served as a Sheriff's Deputy with a corrections focus. I handled inmate movement, transport, scheduling, and documentation while maintaining a safe and orderly environment. I worked in retail and food service where calm during peak hours and customer care mattered every minute. I also worked as an accessories installer on Nissan vehicles where precision and consistent quality were required at the end of the production line.

  • Greene County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff's Deputy in corrections and transport.
  • Wallenius Wilhelmsen Solutions. Accessories installer on Nissan vehicles.
  • Trader Joe's, Murfreesboro. Crew Member. Customer experience and store operations.
  • Retail and quick service roles. Front line service, multi tasking, and point of sale operations.

Education and training

MTSU

  • B.B.A. in Business Administration in progress. Minors in Economics and Finance, and Military Science.
  • Journalism coursework in photo, audio, and video storytelling.

Military

  • Military Police Academy.
  • Military Police Investigator course.
  • Special Response Team course.
  • Basic Leader Course.
  • Company Assistant S 3 experience in training design and execution.

Selected skills

Operations
Training plans, ACFT events, shift leadership, checklist design.
Investigations and security
MPI fundamentals, evidence handling, report writing, OPSEC discipline.
Communication
Briefings, clear written reports, customer interaction, team coordination.
Tools
Microsoft Word and Excel, fast typing, basic data entry and tracking.

Timeline

  • 2025 to present Full time student at MTSU. ROTC cadet. Full time crew member at Trader Joe’s.
  • 2022 to 2023 Deployment to Eastern Europe. Training and operations coordination.
  • 2021 Promoted to Sergeant. Led teams and covered higher level duties when needed.
  • 2020 to 2021 Deployment to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
  • 2015 to present Tennessee Army National Guard, Military Police. MPI and SRT schools.

What I value

  • Integrity: Character is doing the right thing when nobody is watching. It is the foundation of trust in every team I serve.
  • Clarity: Everybody has a plan until they get hit. A clear plan must adapt and still hold together under pressure.
  • Responsibility: Leadership means owning both success and failure. A team works best when everyone is accountable for their part.
  • Curiosity: Once you stop learning, you start dying. Asking better questions leads to better outcomes.

Academic Work

As part of my coursework in JOURNALISM 2720 - Digital Media Practices at MTSU, I am developing a portfolio of digital storytelling projects including photo essays, audio narratives, and video documentaries. This website serves as both a showcase for these assignments and my final project for the course.

All assignments are created with a focus on accessibility, including full transcripts for audio and video content, and are designed to meet professional journalism standards.

Work with me

I am open to collaborations related to business, leadership, training, or storytelling. If you have a project in mind, reach out.

Contact Joe