I served in the U.S. Army from 2002 to 2023. I earned a bachelor's degree from George Washington University, two graduate degrees from Baylor University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business. My career experience includes running field medical units during three tours of Iraq, serving as the Chief Financial Officer of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and the Brooke Army Medical Center, as well as teaching management and economics at the University of Texas, San Antonio.
Q&A Responses
1. Workforce development and local employers
Q: How will you support job training, career and technical education, and partnerships with local schools so employers in House District 44 have access to a skilled and reliable workforce?
A: Texas should invest in training programs that are directly aligned with real hiring needs in health
care, skilled trades, manufacturing, and technology so that students graduate with credentials that lead to good jobs.
While I am a strong believer in the value of higher education, I recognize that different people have different needs and it is vital to offer multiple options for those entering the workforce. As your representative, I will support workforce development by strengthening career and technical education, expanding paid apprenticeships, and building stronger partnerships between K–12 schools, community colleges, and local employers in the district.
I will also work to make it easier for small and mid-sized employers to participate in training partnerships by reducing administrative barriers and supporting regional workforce grants that help businesses train and retain local workers.
Finally, I will also prioritize workforce pathways for veterans and military families by expanding credential-translation programs, supporting veteran-focused apprenticeships, and helping employers more easily recognize military training and experience toward civilian licenses and certifications.
2. Transportation and infrastructure capacity
Q: How will you advocate for state funding and policy that improves roads, bridges, broadband, and infrastructure so businesses in House District 44 can operate and expand efficiently?
A: My focus is on practical, accountable infrastructure investments that reduce travel time, lower operating costs for local businesses, and support continued growth in our district.
To that end I will advocate for state funding that directly targets congestion relief, freight movement, and safety improvements on the major corridors that businesses and workers rely on every day, including intersection improvements on key commuter and commercial routes and faster delivery of shovel-ready projects already identified by local governments. I support dedicated funding to accelerate bridge repair and preventative maintenance so small and mid-sized communities are not forced to delay needed projects or compete unfairly with large metro areas.
On broadband, I will push to fully fund and tightly oversee Texas’ broadband expansion programs so unserved and underserved neighborhoods in the district receive last-mile connections that actually reach homes and small businesses.
On water and energy infrastructure, I will fight to protect local water rights and oppose policies that allow water to be exported out of our communities without local consent, while also investing in next-generation water collection, reuse, and retention technologies like advanced rainwater capture, aquifer recharge, and modern storage systems. I will also support strengthening grid resilience so employers can expand without facing reliability or capacity constraints.
3. Regulatory clarity and economic growth
Q: How will you work to provide clear, predictable state regulations and targeted support so small businesses, agriculture, manufacturing, and other key sectors in House District 44 can plan, invest, and grow?
A: I will work to provide clear, predictable, and consistent state regulations so small businesses, agriculture, manufacturers, and service providers can plan, invest, and grow. While we need to protect public health and safety, it is vital to avoid unnecessary complexity and frequent rule changes. These create uncertainty which especially affects small businesses without lawyers or compliance staff.
I will also work to curb regulatory capture by increasing transparency in rule making and strengthening oversight of agencies to ensure regulations serve the public and local employers rather than special interests. I also support stronger and more consistent enforcement of antitrust and fair-competition laws so small and mid-sized businesses can compete on a level
playing field.
I also support targeted, accountable state programs that help key local industries modernize, expand their workforce, and adopt new technologies, while ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently and transparently. My goal is a business climate that encourages investment and supports job creation while meeting the needs of the communities in which they are embedded.