A Final Portrait. A Continuing Purpose.
As my time being privileged to wear the uniform comes to a close, I requested a final official picture to mark this chapter of my life. I was given two options, strikingly different in tone, yet both are reflections of me. And now I find myself asking: which image tells the story of my military career’s end? Which is its summation? I think those are different answers.
One is serious, professional, composed. It reflects the office I held, the weight of responsibility, and the steady presence often required to navigate difficult challenges. It speaks to the gravitas of service and the trust this nation placed in me.
The other is warm, approachable, confident, and optimistic. It represents not just who I am, but who I still strive to be. It carries a sense of connection, authenticity, and, I hope, an invitation for others to feel seen, valued, and empowered.
I can still be, and know that I still am, the badass in the formal picture. If I had been allowed to continue serving, it likely would have been my professional choice, embodying the resolve and responsibility demanded in the current environment. It represents the endpoint of one chapter, but also something that endures and carries into whatever is next.
But how do I want to lead as we go forward? With a smile, even if it’s only in my eyes, that says: you are welcome here, and we can do hard things together. That’s how I’d want to be remembered — that is my summation. So I choose the smile.
As Ruth Bader Ginsburg said: “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you."
There is still so much I care about. The uniform may come off, but my commitment to public service remains. I’ll be taking some time to chart the course ahead, knowing there are still battles worth fighting. And when they arrive, I hope to see you alongside… smiling.
One is serious, professional, composed. It reflects the office I held, the weight of responsibility, and the steady presence often required to navigate difficult challenges. It speaks to the gravitas of service and the trust this nation placed in me.
The other is warm, approachable, confident, and optimistic. It represents not just who I am, but who I still strive to be. It carries a sense of connection, authenticity, and, I hope, an invitation for others to feel seen, valued, and empowered.
I can still be, and know that I still am, the badass in the formal picture. If I had been allowed to continue serving, it likely would have been my professional choice, embodying the resolve and responsibility demanded in the current environment. It represents the endpoint of one chapter, but also something that endures and carries into whatever is next.
But how do I want to lead as we go forward? With a smile, even if it’s only in my eyes, that says: you are welcome here, and we can do hard things together. That’s how I’d want to be remembered — that is my summation. So I choose the smile.
As Ruth Bader Ginsburg said: “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you."
There is still so much I care about. The uniform may come off, but my commitment to public service remains. I’ll be taking some time to chart the course ahead, knowing there are still battles worth fighting. And when they arrive, I hope to see you alongside… smiling.
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