Once you were diagnosed, what happened next?
I shed a lot of tears that day. I was doing so well. I looked forward to this lifelong career, but the diagnosis meant I couldn’t be a pilot. I couldn’t deploy.
The base had me stop flying right away because it wasn’t safe. I went through a medical board review, but the board decided I was unfit for duty. I was processed out of the military with a medical retirement in 2019.
The first year after the diagnosis was hard, and the hardest part was staying on base while my classmates went through training. I decided to serve my time back, so I got a job with the Alumni Association to keep the connection in my heart. The whole time, I heard the planes over my head. I helped other cadets in training; I helped my best friend study, but I wasn’t out there with them. I watched people live the dream I always wanted. It was a tough time.
What led you to Moss Adams?
Justin Fisher, who also attended the US Air Force Academy, sent a note to the Alumni Association searching for more graduates to join the firm. I decided to apply because I needed a fresh start to process things.
Working with Justin and Nicole Darty, another veteran, has made a huge difference in transitioning into my civilian job. They remind me that how I was taught to think in the military isn’t the same as how we operate in the civilian world. They’re pushing me, helping me, and taking time out of their day to provide resources to get to the next level. That’s incredible.