I grew up in southern Ireland and moved to the U.S. permanently in 2010. After arriving in Southern California, I fell in love with the outdoors—especially the desert—and soon realized I needed a 4WD vehicle to fully explore it. That’s where everything changed. I started spending time with the Tierra Del Sol 4WD Club of San Diego (TDS) and volunteering at their annual Desert Safari event. Eventually, my wife Laura and I became full-fledged members, and I had the honor of serving as Club President from June 2018 to June 2021. Since then, I’ve continued my involvement as the club-appointed State Delegate, focusing on land use issues and advocating for responsible motorized recreation.