He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from West Virginia University in 1989 and a Juris Doctor from West Virginia University College of Law in 1992.
[citation needed] He was a law clerk for Judge Frederick Pfarr Stamp Jr. of the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia from 1992 to 1994.
He was the United States attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia from 2001 to 2006.
He was nominated to a seat vacated by Charles Harold Haden II.
He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 6, 2006, and received his commission on April 17, 2006.