Career Roadmap
Todd's work combines: Writing, Armed Services, and Communicating / Sharing Stories
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Boone High School
Vocational
Public Administration
U.S. Dept. of Defense Information School
Bachelor's Degree
Organizational Communication, General
Thomas Edison State College
Bachelor's Degree
Information/Psychological Warfare and Military Media Relations
Syracuse University
Graduate Degree
Strategic Studies, General
American University
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Film & Video Editors:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
I didn't fully apply myself in high school, but I always enjoyed journalism & TV production classes.
2.
I joined the Marines as a combat correspondent; I sought out stories that the media wouldn't cover.
3.
I was selected as the U.S. Department of Defense's Broadcast Journalist of the Year in 2009.
4.
That was the first time I truly felt validated in my skills; I felt like I could be successful.
5.
I was also selected as the U.S. Marine Corps' Broadcast Journalist of the Year in 2009, 2011 & 2012.
6.
In 2013, I felt like it was time to move on from the military, put down roots, and start a family.
7.
In 2 years, I went from not caring about ever getting a formal degree to earning my master's degree.
8.
I interned with the White House's Office of Digital Strategy in 2014; I'm now working at DAV.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Peers:
Why would you want to get out of the military? You'll never have it as good as you do right now.
How I responded:
Some senior leaders will use this scare tactic to try to keep you in the military, saying, "What about your pension? What about your free health care?" But I knew when it was time to get out, and I also knew that the time that I'd given was enough that I'd be able to look back without regret. I think this "noise" resonates with a lot of veterans, but you've got to overcome it by finding the confidence you had when you first entered, and realizing that you need to do what's right for you.