Originally from the State of Washington, I was first licensed in Oregon as a Novice in August, 1954. After completing school I served for 30 years in the U.S. Navy as a Radioman and later as a Naval Officer. During my Navy career I was able to operate maritime mobile from the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Red Sea, Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean areas. While ashore, I set up and operated DX stations in Japan, Republic of the Philippines, Hawaii and Italy. My Italian call, IK8DRN, is still current, although I don't have plans to return to Italy anytime soon.

In early 2004 I retired from my post-Navy career in Defense Consulting and returned to Hawaii to continue with the things I enjoy most in ham radio, DXing (from a DX QTH !) contesting, traveling and renewing old acquaintences on-the-air and in person. Unfortunately, I had to leave the Islands a year later and return to Virginia and my "no antenna QTH !" I've also returned to the work force in my pre-retirement job ! Future plans include installing a remote site in Appomattox County, in a nice country setting that could produce a bumper crop of antennas !