I served in the Marine Corps from July 1950 to July 1954 and served with the 2nd 4.5 Rocket Battalion, 8th Tank Battalion and in Korea with the 2nd Battalion 1st Marines and was wounded in action against the Chinese.

I enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve and served 3 years as a staff sergeant with the 23rd Rifle Company in New Jersey. I later received a commission in Navy Reserve Intelligence and rose to the rank of Captain. I retired from the Los Angeles police as Captain. I also served for President Reagan and Bush as the Regional Commissioner of US Customs and was a member of Governor Wilson's Cabinet as the Agency Secretary of the Youth and Adult Corrections Agency.

I have a Bachelor's degree from California State University Los Angeles, and a Master Degree from University of Southern California.