I was born in in Los Angeles, CA. My parents were from Harlingen, Texas, and my stepfather from upstate New York.
My early childhood was typical growing up in the 1960-80s. In 1971, my mother moved us back to Harlingen, where she began working at the Marine Military Academy (MMA), as a tailor (MMA is a boarding school run and operated by retired Marines but funded by private donations and tuitions). In 1979, my mother met and married my stepfather, MSgt Lawrence Tichenor, USMC(Ret), who was the school’s Band Director and who served 20+ years with “The President’s Own” Marine Corps Band in Washington, D.C. That same year at the age of twelve, my mother enrolled me at MMA. It was my first true introduction to the Marine Corps and SgtMaj Harvey Gilmore, Delta Company’s Drill Instructor. He would be my father figure for the next six years. SgtMaj Gilmore was a bulldog-looking man, Korean/Vietnam veteran and huge cigar smoker.
So, in the Fall of 1979, I reported to MMA as a new Plebe/Private. To say the least, my first semester there was a true whirlwind for myself and nine of my fellow 7th Graders. The Cadet Officers and Staff NCOs, to include several one-year Postgraduates, were “Gods” in my eyes. There was a lot of yelling going on, but there was also a lot of instruction with patience and understanding. My Drill Instructor was a retired SgtMaj who served in both Korea and Vietnam, who for all intents and purposes was my father away from home. He held us to a high standard and instilled in us Marine Corps traits and values.
A typical day at MMA started with 0600 reveille, followed by P.T. and 1st mess (breakfast). School started at 0815 after room/uniform inspection/drill. School ended at 1545, and every student was required to participate in an extracurricular activity. I was active in swimming, football, and track. Each year I was assigned a billet starting as an Assistant Squad Leader my eighth-grade year to Company Commander my senior year. Leading, mentoring, and teaching other cadets was just a part of doing business there.
My desire to lead was instilled by the older cadets and DIs on campus from day one. I was mesmerized by their abilities and thought I could not wait to do that one day. Early on, I learned to set goals, and I took a step back to visualize what needed to happen to move up in rank. My leaders’ desire to sacrifice time and efforts to help me excel in and out of the classroom would forever be a part of me. Those countless hours of studying and the values instilled in me year after year, led me to return to the Marine Military Academy. I genuinely believe that one should pay it forward, no matter how big or small the deed. I moved up in the ranks, to include sports, where I learned the value of leadership, teamwork, discipline, and good sportsmanship. My goal was to lead others as I once was led. I vividly remember when I was promoted my junior year to Gunnery Sergeant, then my senior year to Major as the Company Commander for one of the five companies/barracks. I remember the excitement of what was to come, but more importantly the responsibilities and duties of leading seventy-eight cadets. What I learned here would define who I was as a person and who I am as a Marine Officer. I am forever indebted to my mother and the Marine Military Academy.
Being a leader encompasses our future by setting an example so that they too may become productive citizens to our country. Growing up in a home where my mother took the initiative in raising three boys on her own was quite remarkable, but the sacrifice she made for my brothers, and I are what made me the man I am today. She worked multiple jobs to give us the necessities and knew she needed to give us more than just money, but an education. She will always be my biggest hero.
If someone told me I would grow up to be a Marine or a law enforcement officer as an adult, I would have laughed in his/her face. Upon graduating from MMA, I attended and graduated from Texas State University with a degree in Urban Planning. After college, I took a job as a City Planner in Brownsville, Texas. There, I worked primarily on the 1990 Census and a Capital Improvements Plan. By that time, I was missing everything MMA had stood for, so I applied to Marine Corps Officer Candidate School.
In the summer of 1991, I was accepted and reported to Officer Candidate School, graduating in August then immediately reporting to the Marine Corps’ Basic School and subsequently to my Military Occupational Specialty. I then reported to 29 Palms, California where I served with 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion until 1995, when I left active duty and entered the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a Special Agent but remained in the Marine Corps Reserves.
In 1996, I reported to the DEA McAllen District Office, McAllen, Texas. I worked on large-scale investigations, primarily smuggling and transportation cases. While in McAllen, I deployed to Al Anbar Province, Iraq in 2004 as the Commanding Officer of Charlie “Carlos” Company, 1st Battalion 23rd Marines and again in 2010 to Helmand Province, Afghanistan as the Counter-Narcotics/Training Officer for I MEF (Fwd.). In 2015, I moved to Brownsville, Texas to serve as DEA’s Resident Agent in Charge of the Brownsville Resident Office. In 2019, I retired from the Marine Corps Reserves and in 2022 I retired from the DEA.
I am married to the former Carmina Salinas of Mission, Texas and together we have four boys. The oldest is a 2021 Texas A&M College Station graduate and current teacher. The second oldest is a 2023 Southwestern University – Georgetown graduate and aspiring dentist. The third is a recent high school graduate and the fourth is a high school junior.
