PLP 2010 Profile: Tim Ciampaglio

Name: Timothy J. Ciampaglio
Age: 47
Born: Baltimore, MD (lived in 33 different locations)
Current Digs: Live: Stafford (Augustine North); Work: Manassas
Occupation: VP of Operations, ISCI (a government contracting firm)
Favorite part about the job? Leading, creating and growing the inner workings of a small organization as it grows into a medium size company.
Your first job ever? Other than small part-time jobs in High School, my first job was enlisting at the age of 17 (5’6” – 130lbs) into the Coast Guard upon graduation from the High School (1980).  I was stationed on a 210’ ship where I cleaned pot/pans, swabbed decks and stood late-night watches as lookout and helmsman.  At that point I decided that one day I would command a ship.  Six ships, 10 years at sea, many search and rescues, drug seizures and migrant intercepts later, I commanded a 110’ Cutter out of Honolulu, HI from 1997-1999.  My highest profile rescue was the highly publicized 1998 Christmas Day rescue of the three Billionaire Balloonists attempting to be the first people to balloon around the world.  Although I missed Christmas morning with my boys, any day you can successfully save three people (no matter who they are) is a good day.
Favorite book? I read mostly autobiographies and biographies of many political and world leaders.  I do this in an attempt to connect with the person through their words.  Nixon’s Memoirs, Joe Leiberman’s “In Praise of Public Life”, Jimmy Carter’s “An Hour Before Daylight”, Truman’s Memoirs, Ronald Regan’s 300 best one-minute radio addresses, “Character is Destiny” by John McCain and The Patton Papers (1940-1945) are high up on my list; however, the biggest eye-opener I’ve read to-date is Malcolm-X’s Memoirs.  It opened my eyes to another world that, until I read it, happened around me but I never knew existed. 
Favorite movie? “The Four Seasons” with Alan Alda and Carol Burnett.
Comfort food? Changes with time and as I am exposed to new things…Drinks: Chai Tea in the morning, Lipton Iced Tea (sweet and in the bottle) in the afternoon. Food: potato chips and French fries.
What's in your car CD player right now (or favorites on your iPod)? Classic Rock and Roll.
Next journey?  Travel wise, our next tour is to Europe with the family, now that our boys are old enough to appreciate it.
Favorite Virginia vacation spot?  Shenandoah Valley and Skyline Drive.
First political memory? Although I recall many political events as a young man, Watergate, Vietnam and the Iranian Hostage situation, my first real political encounter was running for the PTO when my kids were in an Elementary School with a very poor leader as principal.  I ran and won the position of PTO President.  I then told the principal that, since I was a Professor of Leadership at the Coast Guard Academy, I would spend two days a week with him coaching him in what many in the neighborhood thought were his leadership flaws. He quit his position shortly thereafter and the town hired a very nice principal that made a difference for the kids.
Whom do you admire and why?  In the book, Character Is Destiny, it talks about a man named Maximilian Kolbe who was a Polish priest.  He died as prisoner 16670 in Auschwitz on August 14, 1941. When a prisoner escaped from the camp, the Nazis selected 10 others to be killed by starvation in reprisal for the escape.  One of the 10 selected to die, Franciszek Gajowniczek, began to cry: "My wife! My children! I will never see them again!" At this Father Kolbe stepped forward and asked to die in his place - his request was granted.

Within my belief system, one’s goal in life is to seek and follow the will of God.  I pray every day seeking to know God’s will for my life.  I strive to live that daily.  This man faced his destiny (God’s will) head on.  I often wonder if I would or could be as strong and compassionate should that decision have been mine to make.
Best advice you ever got?  Do not feel that you are better than another because of your education, because of your wealth or because of the fancy things you own.  No, never think that you are better because as MLK Jr said “you will never be what you ought to be until they are what they ought to be.” One cannot judge or say that he/she has a strong moral/ethical character – others do that based on the individual’s actions.  This is a month-to-month, week-to-week, day-to-day, hour-to-hour, minute-to-minute accounting of who you are and what you do to ensure adherence to the very standards you judge others with.
If you could have dinner with any one currently living, whom would it be with and why? There is no one person that I would like to have dinner with as I have met or interacted with high profile people regularly throughout my life.  I am not impressed with the “powerful” people of today highlighted in today’s press, movies and sports.  However, I’d like to have dinner with all of today’s world leaders at once and facilitate a discussion of how to end hunger, stop war and work for peaceful solutions to the issues of today.
Describe a perfect day? The perfect day for me is leading a balanced life, honoring my values while mentally, spiritually, physically and emotionally exhausting myself in the service of the Lord while making life better for others.
One thing most people might be surprised to learn about you?  That I earned a Second Degree Black Belt in 2001 and have studied 6 different styles of martial arts over 22 years of practice.
Ambition, political or otherwise?  To strive to be the best person I can be, allow that to take me where God intends it to take me, while serving others in the capacity that God has intended for my life.