I was born in Rutland, Vermont, and I am proud to be an 8th-generation Vermonter. I live in Poultney, where I raised my family and built my farm — and where I learned that Vermont is worth fighting for.
I have three wonderful children, all living in Vermont, who have blessed me with five beautiful grandchildren. Everything I do in the Senate, I do with them in mind: the question is always whether the Vermont we leave behind will be affordable, beautiful, and full of opportunity for the next generation.
35 Years in Uniform
I served in the Vermont Army National Guard and retired in 2004 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, with 35 years of service to my country and the State of Vermont. I enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1972 as a wheel and track vehicle mechanic, and was commissioned as an Armor officer in 1979.
I served one combat tour in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, where I was awarded the Bronze Star for my service. Much of my military career focused on education, training, and leadership development — including service as Training Division Chief at the Army Mountain Warfare School in Jericho, Vermont, and training Afghan officers and soldiers during my deployment.
A Farmer and Steward of the Land
In 2007 I co-founded Slate Hill Farms LLC in Poultney, and in 2008 I bought the farm and still operate it today as a source of organic food for my family. The farm was a member of the Northeast Organic Farmer's Association (NOFA) from 2008 to 2014, and it is still working land.
As a farmer, landowner, and former Deputy Game Warden, I understand the challenges facing the people who work Vermont's land and depend on it for their livelihood. That experience shapes how I approach natural resources, property rights, and the working landscape that defines our state.
A Lifetime of Community Service
Public service, for me, has never been about holding office. Long before the Senate, I served my community — and I still do.
I am a former president of the Poultney Fish and Game Club and serve as Southern Vice President of the Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs and Vice President of its Fund for Conservation and Training. I am a board member of the Veteran's Assistance Office — "The Dodge House," which advocates for homeless veterans in the Rutland area, and of the Adam N. Maslack Charitable Corporation, which funds scholarships focused on the environment and the preservation of Vermont traditions. I served on the Poultney Select Board from 2015 to 2020.
I will continue to be an advocate for hunters, anglers, and trappers, an unwavering supporter of gun owners and sportsmen and women, and a steward who will promote, protect, and conserve the wildlife of Vermont.
In the Vermont Senate Today
I currently serve in the Vermont General Assembly as State Senator for seat #23 — now in my second term. I am Vice Chairman of the Senate Natural Resources & Energy Committee and a member of the Senate Education Committee, and I also serve on the Senate Judicial Retention Committee.
That is where the work gets done — and where I have built a record of fighting for the common taxpayer, the property owner, and every Vermonter who deserves to be heard.