The author grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona and graduated from Stanford University. While at Stanford he spent six months studying at Stanford’s campus in Florence, Italy then returned after graduation as Assistant Director of Stanford in Italy. He received a Ph.D. from MIT in Political Economy. While at MIT he received a Fulbright to study in France. He then pursued a career as a consultant to major corporations and in national politics. He speaks French and Italian fluently. He is married to a French woman and has two sons and a granddaughter. He is also the author of "For the Love of America."