Stephen joined UT CTAS in January 2003. Prior to joining UT CTAS, Steve served as an assistant attorney general for the State of Tennessee, assigned to the criminal justice division, handling federal and state capital case litigation. Before that, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a judge advocate, receiving the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal and Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal. He retired from the U.S. Marine Corps at the rank of major after 23 years of service. He received his law degree from the University of Memphis in 1989 and his bachelor’s degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 1986.