I am an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Middle Tennessee State University in Nashville, TN USA. I received my B.S. degree in Systems Engineering from the Turkish Military Academy and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Sociology from the Louisiana State University. My areas of expertise include criminology, mental health, and military sociology. I am particularly interested in how life events, life transitions, and turning points that take place during different developmental stages over the life course (e.g., military service) separately and interdependently influence criminal behavior and mental health. In my recent studies, I investigated both negative and protective impacts of military service on short- and long-term patterns of mental health, crime, and deviance.