Sustainability should be a priority in my field because the military is one of the largest and most resource-intensive institutions in the world. Every day, bases operate like small cities, powering hangars, data centers, housing, medical facilities, and mission-critical equipment around the clock. When those systems rely on outdated infrastructure and fossil-fuel-heavy energy sources, inefficiency becomes normalized. Over time, that inefficiency does not just affect budgets; it impacts the health of service members, the readiness of the mission, and the surrounding communities. Serving in the Air Force has made this reality impossible to ignore. I have watched how air quality along the Wasatch Front directly affects daily life on and off base. During winter inversions, the haze settles into the valley and lingers, and people feel it in their breathing, energy levels, and overall well-being. These moments remind me that environmental health and human health are inseparable, especially in high-demand operational environments like military installations. My academic focus in Engineering, Sustainability, and Health has helped me connect these experiences to real solutions. For my capstone project, I am evaluating the feasibility of Enhanced Geothermal Systems and zero-waste energy strategies at Hill Air Force Base. I am studying how capturing and reusing waste heat, improving building efficiency, and transitioning to cleaner energy sources could reduce emissions while increasing energy resilience. This work has shown me that sustainability is not a competing priority to national defense, it strengthens it. Resilient energy systems mean fewer disruptions, lower operating costs, and improved air quality for everyone who lives and works on base. In the future, I see myself helping reduce environmental impact by bridging the gap between technical research and real-world implementation within the Department of Defense. I want to be part of the conversation when infrastructure decisions are made, bringing both engineering data and a public-health perspective to the table. My goal is not only to support renewable energy adoption, but to help shift the culture around how energy is viewed: not as an unlimited resource, but as something that should be managed thoughtfully and efficiently. Long term, I hope to use what I learn in the military to influence civilian systems as well. If a complex, security-driven environment like a military base can demonstrate that sustainability improves reliability, protects health, and saves money, then those lessons can ripple outward into surrounding communities, local governments, and industry. Sustainability should not be treated as an optional add-on in my field, it should be embedded into how we define readiness, leadership, and responsibility for the future.

My passion for protecting the environment does not come from a single class or headline. It comes from living it every day. As an active-duty Air Force member stationed along Utah’s Wasatch Front, I have watched how winter inversions settle into the valley and linger for days, making the air thick and hard to breathe. I think about my children, my coworkers, and the families who live just outside the gates of Hill Air Force Base, and I realize that climate change is not a distant or abstract problem. It shows up in our lungs, our energy bills, and even our ability to do our jobs well. These experiences are the reason I chose to pursue a Master’s in Engineering, Sustainability, and Health, and why my capstone project focuses on evaluating Enhanced Geothermal Systems and zero-waste energy strategies at Hill AFB. My research explores how waste heat recovery and cleaner energy systems could significantly reduce emissions from base operations while improving resilience and long-term cost savings. Working on this project has completely changed how I see sustainability. It is not about asking people to give things up, it’s about designing smarter systems that support both the mission and the people who carry it out. Military installations function like small cities, running around the clock with enormous energy demands. When those systems rely on outdated infrastructure, inefficiency becomes normalized. Through my studies, I am learning that reducing waste is not only good for the planet, it is also essential for public health and national security. Cleaner air improves readiness. Reliable, decentralized energy improves resilience. These are climate solutions that strengthen rather than compromise the mission. My goal is to use my education to advocate for sustainable energy transitions within the Department of Defense and eventually help scale those solutions beyond the base. If we can demonstrate that a place as complex as a military installation can successfully integrate geothermal energy and zero-waste principles, then there is no reason our surrounding communities cannot do the same. When I talk to my family and friends about reducing their carbon footprint, I keep it honest and realistic. I don’t ask them to overhaul their lives overnight. I ask them to notice where they waste energy, food, or resources and make small, consistent changes. Turn off what you are not using. Waste less food. Choose reusables. Support local clean-energy initiatives when they are available. Most importantly, talk about why these choices matter. Once people understand that sustainability protects their health, their finances, and their future, it no longer feels like an obligation… it feels like something worth doing.