I was born in Columbia, Missouri and lived in the central part of Missouri until we moved to Springfield, Missouri when I was 5 years old. I went to elementary, junior high, and high school in Springfield and attended Missouri State University (formerly Southwest Missouri State University) graduating with a bachelor of science in Engineering Physics and Mathematics in 1994. At that point I entered graduate school at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater where I worked on my Masters and Doctrate degree.
Family:
We have five members in our family. My wife, Stacy, stepdaughter, Katie, stepson, Andrew, and daughter, Abbie.