What are your hobbies/passions?

I have collected baseball and football cards since I was about five years old and have a nice collection of some prominent athletes. I have been involved in fantasy baseball and football leagues every year since 1997. I love playing Texas Hold 'em and have a personal goal to attend the "World Poker Tour Main Event" in Las Vegas sometime in the future.

What's your background?

I am from Mechanicsburg, Pa. I have been married to Amy Judd Kibe since August 1999 and we have a nine-year-old daughter named Kaylie Regin. I also have an 18-year-old son, Mark David, who lives with his mother in Kansas. I enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in December 1987 and served more than eight years. In September 2005 I enlisted in the Pennsylvania National Guard and volunteered to go to Iraq with the 628th Finance Detachment. Upon completion of my 15-month deployment I went to the Army recruiter to inquire about returning to active duty. Thirty-seven days later, I was back on active duty on my way to an initial assignment with the Army in Korea.

What are some of your future goals?

I am enrolled in Strayer University and working toward a bachelor's degree in Acquisitions and Contracting. I would like to reach the rank of master sergeant with the chance of becoming a sergeant major before retirement. Staying in for 25--30 years is a possibility. I have a strong
desire to be part of the team in Huntsville, Ala., that instructs our future 51Charlies.

Why did you get into contracting?

When I decided to go back onto active duty one of my sole purposes was to find a career field in which I could learn a valuable skill and prepare for my future. As a finance Soldier, I had already been a pay agent and worked with the contracting office in Iraq, so I knew it was a good fit.
I applied for the opportunity with one of my fellow 51Charlies (Sgt. 1st Class Yolanda Spivey) when we were together at Fort Drum, N.Y.

What's the most challenging, what's the most rewarding?

The past two months preparing for and managing the Rapid Trident 2012 contracts have been very challenging, yet rewarding at the same time. Understanding the foreign business practices in the Ukraine and Romania to ensure each contract was completed legally as well as working with 16 different nations during the exercise had its unique challenges.

Any special accomplishments?

I'm referred to as "the voice of the 409th" by fellow NCOs and officers within the unit for my work as the narrator for Command Sgt. Major Fernandez's appointment ceremony.