Randal S. Jernigan

■ Date and place of birth: Oct. 5, 1958, Arlington, Va.

■ Education/Military service: United States Marine Corps, September 1976 to January 1999.

■ Family: Wife Nancy Jernigan; two children, Randal S. Jernigan Jr. and Jessica L. Jernigan.

■ My favorite book is: “Art of War” by Sun Tzu.

■ My personal motto is: Semper Fidelis — the motto of the United States Marine Corps.

■ My definition of a Marine is: A member of the world’s finest fighting force, responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations.

■ One thing I know to be absolutely true about all people is: Everyone likes to be recognized and respected.

■ The most important thing the military taught me was: Leadership traits and principles.

■ The most important thing I tried to teach others during my career: Hard work. Whatever you put into life is what you will get out.

■ A guilty pleasure of mine: Riding a Harley-Davidson cross-country.

■ The secret to being an effective leader is: Understanding that leadership requires a mix of nature and nurture.

■ My proudest accomplishment is: Having earned the title United States Marine.

■ One of my favorite quotes is by: Football coach Vince Lombardi. He said, “Leaders aren’t born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that’s the price we’ll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal.”

■ The people I would most like to share a beer with, living or dead, woud include: Actor/director Clint Eastwood and Gen. Chesty Puller, USMC, to learn from their strengths and weaknesses.

■ I would like to be remembered as: A focused, hard-working, driven individual who was always task-oriented and striving to get those he taught to do their best at everything in life.

■ The word that best describes me is: Competitive.