John grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee and was recruited to wrestle at United States Military Academy, accepting an appointment in 1985. He graduated in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Sciences, majoring in Operations Research, and was commissioned as an Infantry Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Following graduation, he served as a graduate assistant wrestling coach at West Point before completing Officer Basic Course and additional training at Fort Benning.



In August 1990, John was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division as an Infantry Platoon Leader and deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. He participated in the 101st Airborne’s initial air assault mission on the western front of Iraq on February 24, 1991. For his service, John was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge. He later served as a TOW Platoon Leader, was promoted to First Lieutenant, and completed his military service as a Captain in the Individual Ready Reserve before being honorably discharged in 1999.

After leaving active duty, John spent 20 years with Cintas Corporation in progressive leadership roles, including Industrial Engineer, Plant Manager, Service Manager, Sales Manager, and General Manager. He later served for ten years as General Manager of the Evansville property for Drury Hotels, where he led day-to-day operations and large teams with a focus on performance, consistency, and service excellence.

John joined National Vet Help in January 2026. He also serves as Treasurer for Veterans Overwatch, continuing his commitment to supporting fellow veterans beyond the workplace.

Outside of work, John is a proud father of three—Jackson, Justice, and Jillian—and the owner of two papillons, Meili and Raven.