A Columbia College Chicago graduate with a bachelors in Film and minor in Stage Combat, trained under David Woolley, John McFarland, David Yondorf, and Rachel Flesher, serving as a Teaching Assistant for John McFarland for two semesters assisting in teaching Unarmed, Broadsword, and Rapier and Dagger for students to be certified. 

Spent five years in the U.S. Army as an Infantryman conducting combat operations as a Sergeant in Iraq and Afghanistan as a Designated Marksman.