As a combat veteran, military spouse, father, educator, service-disabled small business owner and community activist, Stephen has always been committed to service to his nation, community and family.

Joining the military in 2001 and being in basic training during 9/11, Stephen developed a passion for volunteering in the community throughout his military service. This allowed him to remain connected to the people who he swore to give his life, if necessary. In 2011 before his deployment to Afghanistan he was the defensive coach for the Hopewell youth auxiliary football team, Hopewell Blue Devils. That year the team won the championship as Stephen found unique ways to mentor the boys. This passion for mentoring the next generation has been a key driver in his roles leading soldiers, his son’s youth mentoring club and his scholars at Virginia State University.

Upon his return from Afghanistan, he continued his commitment to community service and was awarded the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for his lifelong commitment to building a stronger nation through volunteer service by President Barack Obama. Unfortunately, the traumas of war led to Stephen being forced to medically retire from the Army in 2015. He faced difficult times during his transition, which led to his advocacy for resources and better services for veterans.

This ignited a fire for his political pursuits, which led to a brief stint in law school before he ultimately became the Senior Legislative Assistant for a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. In this role, the Commonwealth of Virginia historically passed Medicaid expansion and other necessary policy changes for the betterment of Virginians everywhere in 2018.

Stephen is an alumnus of the 2018 cohort of the Minority Political Leadership Institute (MPLI) at the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute at Virginia Commonwealth University. The MPLI program is an intensive eight-month experience designed to promote leadership development for individuals interested in issues important to minority communities including; community economics, political climate, civic engagement, and equity.

The research he and his group members conducted was eventually published in the Journal of Public Management & Social Policy: Vol.27 : No.1, Article 4. The group assessed the Racial Equity Impact of Legislation to Establish a Virginia Grocery Investment Program & Fund to address food insecurity in the Commonwealth.

In 2019, Stephen obtained his Master of Public Administration at Regent University after previously obtaining his Bachelors from Chaminade University of Honolulu. Stephen is a first generation college graduate and understands the importance of access to education and how it can help those who have come from humble beginnings, of being on government assistance, to being a homeowner and small business owner.