Alison was certified in 2001. She graduated with distinction from Iowa State University in December 2007 with a B.A. in civil engineering. Active with her NROTC unit, she joined the Navy after graduation and served for four years on the USS Preble, rising to Operations Officer. She also received her Master’s degree in environmental engineering from Colorado State University. Since 2011 she has worked as an environmental engineer for ARCADIS, a natural and built asset design and consultancy firm, and is residing in Colorado.