PEOPLE

Chief Executive Officer

Gabriel Gomez

Gabriel Gomez is Co-founder and CEO at O2X Human Performance.  In his role, Gabriel orchestrates the comprehensive management of the organization while spearheading the strategic direction of O2X.  As the company continues to expand rapidly, he works to drive competitive and profitable growth while managing risk across the entire business landscape.  Gabriel also manages investor relations and steers O2X’s financial strategy through considerable scale year-over-year.  

As a founding member of O2X, Gabriel has been instrumental in all phases of the company’s life span: from formation to start-up, through rapid expansion, and the evolution of O2X into the world leader in human performance programs for tactical athletes. Gabriel’s leadership, vision, and financial stewardship has been pivotal to that success since the company’s organization.
Prior to the founding of O2X, Gabriel worked in private equity at Advent International, Summit Partners, and Bowles Hollowell Conner and helped co-found the private equity firm Equality Asset Management. In 2013, Gabriel left Advent to run for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by John Kerry, winning the Republican Primary nomination in the special election.

Gabriel is a graduate of the Harvard Business School and United States Naval Academy, serving as a Naval Aviator and SEAL officer before separating from service in 1996.  Gabriel is only the second person in U.S. Navy history to have been an aircraft carrier pilot and then a Navy SEAL officer. In addition, he is a co-founder of the Navy SEAL Foundation New England and is a former Trustee on the board of Noble & Greenough School. Gabriel lives in Cohasset, MA with his wife and four children.

Co-Founder and Managing Partner

Adam La Reau

Adam La Reau co-founded O2X Human Performance in 2013 along with Paul McCullough and Gabriel Gomez, and serves as Managing Partner. Under Adam’s leadership, the company relentlessly evolves its program offerings, products, and structure to meet the ever-changing demands placed on tactical athletes. Adam’s vision is for O2X to provide world class training and integrated educational experiences that improve the health, safety, and performance of our nation’s heroes.

As O2X grew, Adam’s focus shifted toward the development of scalable operations and management systems, guiding the company from a regional startup to becoming the world leader in performance. Currently, the model supports a team of hundreds of human performance and on-site specialists, as well as innovative learning programs and technology.

Prior to O2X, Adam was a former Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy who began his military career as a Midshipman at the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA). After graduating and earning his commission in 2002, he successfully completed the U.S. Navy’s Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training to earn the title of U.S. Navy SEAL. After successfully completing BUD/S and advanced training, he spent his career with East Coast based Navy SEAL Teams. Over the next decade, Adam conducted numerous combat deployments.

After leaving active duty in 2013, Adam pursued further education at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and received a Master of Public Administration. Following his passions, he founded a non-profit called ‘One Summit’ to build resilience in children with cancer, which has helped hundreds of children and is active in four major cities. The results of the program are being utilized in post-traumatic growth studies to further support programs for children and veterans.  Adam currently resides in Scituate, MA with his wife and son.

Co-Founder and Managing Partner

Paul McCullough

Paul McCullough co-founded O2X Human Performance in 2013 along with Adam La Reau and Gabriel Gomez, and serves as Managing Partner. Paul’s vision steers the overall growth strategy of O2X, ensuring the company’s products and offerings are best positioned for maximum impact across current and future O2X clients. Paul is driven by a passion for supporting those who serve others, focusing on improving the health, safety, and performance of our nation’s tactical populations and elite organizations.

Through the company’s formative years, Paul oversaw all areas business development, building a truly customized training platform that now services hundreds of federal, state, and local organizations across the United States. Paul guided the process of customizing O2X’s proven methodology to meet the unique demands of every client, leading the development of industry defining programs, products, and services.

Prior to O2X, Paul served eleven years in the U.S. military as a Navy SEAL. He spent his career with SEAL Team Eight and Naval Special Warfare Development Group. Throughout his service, Paul conducted numerous combat deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and other contingency operations around the globe. Paul left the Navy as a Chief Petty Officer and his highest awards include a Silver Star Medal, 2 Bronze Star Medals with Valor, and 2 Joint Service Commendation Medals with Valor.

After leaving the Navy in 2012, Paul was hired at Eaton Vance Investment Managers where he worked in the Institutional sales team. He left Eaton Vance in 2014 to follow his passion for entrepreneurship and Human Performance. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from American Military University and resides in New England with his wife and four kids.

Chief Operating Officer

Brice Long

Brice Long is the Chief Operating Officer at O2X, bringing a deep company familiarity, cultural competence, and a passion for human performance to his role. Leveraging a foundational understanding of the O2X mission, Brice’s insight and creative vision guide the company to operational excellence and regularly surpassing ambitious goals.

Since joining O2X, Brice has held multiple leadership roles through tremendous growth.  Brice led the development of the on-site specialist program, O2X mobile application, key strategic partnerships, and has worked with O2X’s biggest clients to design and implement complex HP programs at locations nationwide. He has previously served as Business Manager; Director of Human Performance Experience; and most recently as Director of Client Services. As a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, he has also presented the O2X curriculum at workshops and national conferences; as well as led dozens of Human Performance training events. 

Previously, Brice worked as a senior aide to former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, managing his DC office, communications, and the campaign for the release of the New York Times Bestseller Known and Unknown. Brice has also served as a Senior Advisor at a non-profit, Concordia, working with the CEO to optimize company operations and lead teams through the execution of multi-day events in Bogota, Colombia, and New York City, responsible for high-profile speakers including President Joe Biden, General David Petraeus, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, Colombian President Ivan Duque, and others.  Brice was also a career firefighter with experience leading recruit academies, officer development, and field training, as well as department fitness programs. His work there has been recognized by national fire service organizations and published in the NSCA’s peer-reviewed Tactical Strength and Conditioning Journal.

Brice is a graduate of Roanoke College and lives in Duxbury with his wife, son, and their English Bulldog, George Washington.

Director of Business Development

Eamonn Burke

Eamonn Burke is the Director of Business Development at O2X Human Performance, where he leads a nationally distributed sales team to drive revenue generation, client retention, and management. Eamonn’s strategic vision and leadership have been critical in positioning O2X as a leader in human performance programming for public safety departments across the U.S. His role involves crafting and executing business development strategies that fuel the company’s substantial year-over-year growth.

Since joining O2X in 2016, Eamonn has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s products and services. He spearheaded the implementation of a CRM system, structured an efficient sales pipeline, and built a decentralized sales team with nationwide coverage. His ability to foster meaningful relationships within the tactical community has been instrumental in driving O2X’s consistent annual revenue growth. Before O2X, Eamonn held key sales roles at security startups Resilient Systems and Rapid7, where he excelled in capturing new market opportunities.

Eamonn is a graduate of The Catholic University of America and a former collegiate baseball player. A passionate endurance athlete, he has completed nine marathons, a half Ironman, and three Pan-Mass Challenges. Eamonn lives in Milton, Massachusetts, with his wife, Kelly, and their dog, Darcy, and enjoys pursuing his athletic interests alongside his professional endeavors.

Director of Sales Operations

Ali Levy

Ali Levy serves as the Director of Sales Operations at O2X Human Performance, where she leverages over a decade of experience in the human performance industry. In her role, Ali collaborates across departments to develop systems and strategies that enable the sales team to focus on revenue generation, client retention, and program implementation. As one of O2X’s founding team members, she is instrumental in shaping internal processes and ensuring the company’s evolution aligns with its core values and mission.

Ali has held various impactful roles at O2X, including Director of Education, where she partnered with leading researchers and experts to create tailored programs for clients. She also contributed to the company’s literary projects, including co-authoring Human Performance for Tactical Athletes and a chapter in Surviving the Fire Service. Before that, as Director of Operations, Ali led the logistics and execution of O2X’s in-person training programs nationwide. Drawing on her background as a Mental Performance Specialist, she has delivered sessions on goal setting, resilience, and performance psychology. Prior to her career at O2X, Ali competed on the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team, achieving titles such as 2x North American Cup Grand Prix Champion and competing at the World Cup level.

In 2015, Ali was inducted into the Ski & Snowboard Club Vail Hall of Fame and Wall of Excellence. After retiring from competitive skiing, she earned a B.A. in Geography from Middlebury College, where she also competed in track and field. She later completed an M.Ed. in Sport Psychology and Counseling at Boston University. Ali continues to pursue athletic challenges, including completing a 1,100-mile cycling trip and multiple 50-mile ultramarathons. She balances her passion for endurance sports with her love for skiing and spending time outdoors.

Director of HP Integration

Lorenzo Romolo

Lorenzo Romolo is the Director of HP Integration at O2X, where he ensures the seamless implementation of O2X’s programs within client organizations. In this role, he manages client relationships and oversees national programs, focusing on impact delivery across various sectors. Lorenzo’s responsibilities include overseeing the On-Site Specialists, data analytics, impact tracking, and customer service to ensure the effective integration of human performance programs that drive results for O2X’s clients.

Lorenzo began his career with O2X as a lead instructor, leveraging his operational experience to deliver training and education events for first responders, federal agencies, and military personnel. He was later promoted to On-Site Specialist Program Manager, where he played a pivotal role in expanding the program across the Army and Air National Guard, fire departments, and the Department of Justice. Lorenzo’s leadership was instrumental in establishing O2X as a trusted partner in human performance within these critical sectors.

Originally from Australia, Lorenzo retired from Special Operations Command Australia after a distinguished 15-year career in the Army. During his time as a Special Forces Operator, he deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, and East Timor, working alongside U.S. Special Operations. He also served in various leadership roles in domestic counterterrorism teams and worked with Australia’s Joint Counter Terrorism and Tactical Police Teams, as well as the FBI HRT. Lorenzo holds a CF-L1 certification and has competed at the CrossFit Regionals. Now based in North Carolina, he enjoys mountain biking, water skiing, and hiking in his free time.

Director of Operations

Zack McAdams

Zack McAdams is the Director of Operations at O2X, where he brings more than a decade of experience as a tactical athlete and a passion for career longevity to his role. Zack oversees all aspects of O2X’s in-person and virtual training and education programs, managing hundreds of global events each year. His responsibilities include overseeing specialist training and staffing, event planning and client coordination, forecasting personnel and equipment needs, logistics, inventory management, staff training and feedback, and budget management. Zack’s leadership ensures the seamless delivery of O2X’s world-class programs that support tactical athletes.

Prior to joining O2X, Zack served 13 years in the U.S. Army as an Infantry Officer, where he earned the rank of Major. Throughout his career, Zack served in various leadership positions across the Army, including the 101st Airborne Division, 25th Infantry Division, and 10th Mountain Division. His roles ranged from teaching and advising to logistics, operations, and command, with multiple combat deployments to Afghanistan. Zack concluded his Army career as an Operations Officer and Executive Officer at the Battalion level, leading the planning, resourcing, and synchronization of operations for an 800-soldier infantry unit. He was medically retired in July 2022 due to career and combat-related injuries, which led him to the O2X team. Zack is driven by a passion to provide world-class training that improves the health, safety, and performance of our nation’s heroes.

Zack holds a bachelor’s degree from Bridgewater State College and a master’s degree from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. He currently resides on the South Shore with his wife, Jen, and their daughter, Delaney. In his personal time, Zack is committed to family and enjoys staying active and engaged in his community. His experience, dedication, and commitment to improving the lives of others make him a valued leader at O2X.

Director Of Education

Meaghan Grimes

Meaghan Grimes is the Director of Education at O2X, where she collaborates with leading researchers and experts to develop customized, integrated programs designed to address the unique challenges faced by tactical athletes and elite organizations. In this role, Meaghan oversees comprehensive data analysis and organizational reporting, focusing on impact assessment. She is also responsible for creating detailed reports for agencies to demonstrate the tangible effects of O2X’s Integrated Specialist Programs and educational training events.

Meaghan has held several roles at O2X, where she has contributed to both the Client Services and Education departments. As the Education & Reporting Manager, she worked closely with teams across the company to develop customized reports that illustrated the effectiveness of the Integrated Specialist Programs and workshops. Before this, she served as the Client Services Manager, where she led the creation of educational content and implemented reporting systems. Meaghan’s experience at O2X has been instrumental in delivering timely, professional customer service while helping to enhance the impact of the company’s programs.

Meaghan holds a Master of Education in Coaching and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, both from Boston University. As an undergraduate, she was a distance swimmer on the BU Swimming and Diving team and a former USA Swimming Senior National Qualifier in distance freestyle and backstroke. Meaghan’s passion for sports and wellness is deeply personal, stemming from a family history of first responders. Her great-grandfather was a firefighter in Lowell, MA, her grandfather served as a Captain in the Massachusetts State Police, and her cousin is a police officer in Boxborough, MA. Working with O2X provides Meaghan with the opportunity to give back to the first responder community and contribute to their health and wellness.

DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING

Dan Hartig

Dan Hartig is Director of Engineering at O2X where he brings a background as an engineer, architect and leader to delivering innovative software solutions to our nation’s first responders, frontline workers, and tactical athletes. Throughout his career, Dan has excelled in implementing large-scale technology solutions in multiple industries. His background includes leading multi-disciplinary teams, refining software development lifecycles and developing software architectures to meet the ever-changing needs of growing teams.

Dan enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2002, soon after the 9/11 attacks. He was selected for an officer candidate program in 2004. Dan graduated the United States Naval Academy as a Trident Scholar with a degree in Computer Science in 2008 and went on to serve as a Nuclear Surface Officer aboard USS Robert G Bradley (FFG-49) and USS George H W Bush (CVN-77). After leaving the Navy in 2015, Dan worked as a software engineer for the intelligence community at Zeta Technologies, followed by stints with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sezzle and Best Buy. Dan brings a breadth of experience at companies from start ups to top national e-commerce retailers to the O2X team.

Dan lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with his wife, Darray and four children. In his free time, Dan smokes meats for hundreds at summer holiday parties and church picnics and is looking forward to his next career as an award winning pit master.

DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE

Crystal Vidas

Crystal Vidas is the Director of People at O2X, where she leads the organization’s people strategy and plays a pivotal role in fostering a high-performance environment. She oversees all HR and administrative functions, ensuring the company scales effectively while supporting its continued growth. Crystal’s leadership ensures alignment with O2X’s overarching strategy, cultivating an environment of growth and success for team members. In addition to her broader HR responsibilities, Crystal also oversees the recruitment, selection, and training of O2X Employees in key operational roles, contributing to the organization’s ability to attract and retain top talent.

Before joining O2X, Crystal spent six years with lululemon, where she led multiple stores in the Philadelphia region. Her journey with the company culminated in the successful opening of a new store in Delaware. Throughout her time at lululemon, she consistently exceeded sales targets, achieved high employee engagement scores, and maintained strong ties with the local community. Prior to her retail career, Crystal spent the first decade of her professional life as a Certified Athletic Trainer. She worked in various locations including Oregon, Virginia, California, and Taiwan, and made significant contributions, such as standing up a sports medicine program at Taipei American School. There, she built a multi-disciplinary team that supported the unique needs of student athletes.

Crystal earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Oregon State University and her Master of Science in Education through the Post Professional Athletic Training Education Program at Old Dominion University. Her diverse career path also reflects her passion for outdoor adventure and athleticism. Crystal has been a competitive CrossFit athlete, participating in regional competitions three times, and transitioned into ultra-endurance sports. One of her most notable accomplishments was an unsupported rim-to-rim-to-rim run of the Grand Canyon, completed with her husband in 16.5 hours. Outside of her professional and athletic pursuits, Crystal is a dedicated mother of three boys, aged 7, 4, and 9 months, and enjoys exploring new adventures with her family.

Head of Federal Sales

Jason Carver

Jason Carver is the Head of Federal Sales at O2X Human Performance, where he oversees activities with a focus on sustainable and profitable growth. He leads the Federal Sales team, driving business development, client management, and event coordination across the nation. Jason’s leadership ensures that O2X continues to provide impactful human performance solutions to federal clients nationwide.

Before joining O2X, Jason served for 21 years in Naval Special Warfare as a Navy SEAL. During his distinguished career, he held leadership roles on SEAL Teams, was a founding member of a Special Reconnaissance Team, and served in staff positions at Naval Special Warfare Command and Naval Special Warfare Unit Ten. Jason became a dedicated advocate for human performance, emphasizing the integration of physical health, nutrition, sleep, injury prevention, and mental resilience into tactical readiness. Additionally, he co-founded Outlier CrossFit in San Diego, managing operations, scaling the business, and sponsoring a team that competed at the CrossFit Games. After four years, Jason and his co-founders successfully exited the business for profit.

Jason has a passion for sports and outdoor activities, enjoying mountain biking, snowboarding, working out in his home gym, and tackling endurance challenges. Based in San Diego, CA, he continues to pursue his commitment to fitness and human performance both personally and professionally.

Head of Municipal Sales

John Vargo

John Vargo serves as the Head of Municipal Sales at O2X Human Performance, where he applies his tactical expertise, leadership skills, and business acumen to create impactful programs for state and local government organizations. He leads the municipal sales team, builds strategic partnerships, and executes business development strategies that drive success for municipal clients nationwide.

Before joining O2X, John retired from a 20-year career with the Chandler Fire Department in Arizona, where he served as an Engineer Paramedic. During his tenure, he contributed as an IAFF Union Representative, an Apparatus Committee Member, and a co-founder of the Chandler FireFighter Athletic Association, supporting firefighter participation in the World Police and Fire Games. John also excelled as a real estate agent for 15 years and served as an Investment Adviser Representative (IAR), guiding his peers in asset diversification, portfolio management, and retirement strategies. After retiring, he founded Turn In, a nonprofit organization introducing first responders to mindfulness and meditation, and became a keynote speaker on first responder mental wellness.

In 2019, John became an mPEAK-certified instructor through UC San Diego’s Center for Mindfulness and contributed as an instructor for the Chopra Global 21-Day Business Kickstarter in 2022. Residing in San Diego, CA, with his wife, John enjoys an active lifestyle that includes running, hiking, mountain biking, snowboarding, and yoga. He is a proud father of three adult children and a grandfather to two.

Head of DoD Sales

Blake Brinkerhoff

Blake Brinkerhoff is the Head of DoD Sales at O2X Human Performance, where he leverages his tactical expertise and leadership background to integrate performance programs into federal agencies. He oversees the federal sales team, focusing on building relationships, ensuring client retention, and driving business development strategies that align with the needs of the U.S. Government sector. His role is instrumental in fostering growth and success within the organization’s federal initiatives.

Blake’s professional foundation was built during his 12-year career as a Navy SEAL, where he completed three deployments to over 20 countries. As a member of SEAL Team 4, he served as Lead Breacher and Assault Team Leader, managing high-risk missions with precision and strategic acumen. In his later years, Blake became the lead instructor for Close Quarters Combat at SEAL Qualification Training, where he trained and mentored over 300 SEAL candidates annually, shaping the next generation of special operators.

Blake holds a degree in organizational leadership, earned during his active-duty service, and a Master of Business for Veterans (MBV) from the University of Southern California. Residing in Oceanside, CA with his wife and three children, Blake embraces his love of the ocean through surfing and spearfishing. His personal passions reflect his commitment to physical and mental resilience, which informs both his work and leisure activities.

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, MUNICIPAL

Nicholas Westendorf

Nick Westendorf is an Account Executive at O2X Human Performance, where he focuses on expanding the company’s work with state and local government clients. In this role, Nick leverages his tactical experience, leadership skills, and subject matter expertise to implement comprehensive performance programs tailored to the needs of his clients. His daily responsibilities include building new relationships, managing client retention, and ensuring that each O2X program delivers maximum impact in support of its mission.

Before transitioning into sales, Nick served as a Combat Engineer Officer in the U.S. Army, achieving the rank of Captain during his five-year active duty service. He deployed to Afghanistan as a Sapper Patrol Leader, conducting counter-IED operations in Regional Command East. Upon returning stateside, he served as a Company Executive Officer and Operations Officer for the 36th Engineer Brigade at Fort Hood, Texas. After leaving the military, Nick launched his sales career as a Territory Manager with Thermo Fisher Scientific, where his success led him to a role with Stryker Medical in New York City. Over the years, he has held various sales positions, excelling in regional strategy development and revenue generation.

Nick earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science from the University of Scranton, where he was a member of the Army ROTC Program and the Men’s Soccer Team. He is currently pursuing a Master of Business for Veterans from the University of Southern California, with an expected graduation in May 2024. Nick and his wife, Divneet, relocated from New York to California in 2022 and have made it their permanent home. Passionate about giving back to the Veteran community, Nick enjoys playing soccer and golf in his free time and is excited to rekindle his commitment to supporting First Responders through his work at O2X Human Performance.

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, MUNICIPAL

Stephen Scrobe

Stephen Scrobe is a Municipal Account Executive at O2X Human Performance, where he applies his tactical experience, leadership skills, and subject matter expertise to deliver impactful programs for local government organizations. His daily responsibilities include executing the business development strategy, managing the municipal sales team, and cultivating partnerships that drive success for O2X’s municipal clients.

Stephen brings over 15 years of law enforcement experience to his role. He has served as a K-9 Officer, SWAT Team Leader, and Training Detective, where he honed his leadership and training expertise. Stephen initially joined O2X as a Lead Instructor and is also the co-founder of Heart and Sol, LLC, a company focused on coaching families in health and fitness through online and in-person training, classes, and workshops. Additionally, he is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and a Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator (TSAC-F) through the NSCA. His passion for fitness and training stems from his background as a collegiate wrestler and rugby player, and he continues to channel that passion as a HYROX Pro competitor and Ironman Triathlete.

Stephen graduated from Missouri State University with a Bachelor’s in Psychology. He is a devoted husband to his wife, Rachel, and a proud father of two boys. Outside of his professional work, Stephen continues to pursue his love of training dogs and still competes in K-9 competitions with his retired K-9, “Carbon.” With a deep belief in a holistic approach to health and wellness, Stephen strives to empower the tactical community through education and training, enhancing both physical and mental performance.

Account Executive, Municipal

Cole Hatcher

Cole Hatcher is a Municipal Account Executive at O2X Human Performance. In this role, he applies his tactical experience, leadership skills, and subject matter expertise to deliver customized programs to local government organizations. His primary responsibilities include building and maintaining client relationships, ensuring retention, and managing impactful programs that support the unique missions of each organization he serves.

Before joining O2X, Cole served as a Special Agent specializing in cases involving gang violence, firearms, and narcotics trafficking. Prior to his federal service, he spent four years on active duty as a Sergeant in the United States Army with F Co 51st Long Range Surveillance Company, where he was part of a military freefall team. During his Army tenure, Cole trained soldiers in surveillance tactics and physical fitness, fostered partnerships with allied forces, and completed advanced training, including the Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course (RSLC), Pathfinder School, and the Military Freefall Parachutist Course (MFFPC).

Cole earned a degree in accounting from the University of Arizona and has worked in various accounting and finance roles. A proud Arizona native, he has a deep passion for the outdoors and spends his free time traveling, hiking, visiting the beach, or competing in trail races and local CrossFit competitions.

Account Executive, Municipal

Conner Freeland

Conner Freeland is a Municipal Account Executive at O2X Human Performance, where he utilizes his coaching experience, leadership background, and expertise in both tactical and collegiate settings to deliver high-impact programs to municipal organizations. Conner’s focus is on building new relationships, client retention, and ensuring each O2X client receives tailored programs that enhance their performance and support their unique mission.

Conner began his career with O2X as an On-Site Specialist and Program Manager, where he pioneered the Integrated Specialist Program at Washington D.C. Fire & EMS. He led a team of multidisciplinary specialists who supported over 2,200 members in the D.C. Fire Department, driving cultural transformation by enhancing physical training for recruits and operational firefighters. His work included developing a comprehensive return-to-work rehabilitation program, strategic facility designs, and fitness assessment tools. Before joining O2X, Conner spent five years as the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach and Assistant Football Coach at the University of Charleston. There, he designed training programs, coached defensive backs and linebackers, recruited student-athletes, and developed new health and wellness procedures for the institution.

Conner holds a Master’s in Strategic Leadership from the University of Charleston and a Bachelor’s in Exercise Science from Longwood University. He has also completed internships in both the collegiate and private sectors and holds certifications from NSCA-CSCS and ACSM-EP. Conner lives in Charlotte, NC with his wife, Abby, and enjoys staying active through sports and outdoor activities.

Account Executive, DoD

Sara Davidson

Sara Davidson is an Account Executive at O2X Human Performance, specializing in client support within the DoD sector. With 20 years of military service, Sara draws on her extensive experience to assist clients in identifying opportunities and developing innovative solutions that enhance engagement and mission accomplishment. Her commitment to continuous learning, willingness to challenge the status quo, and passion for investing in people ensure that her clients’ goals are not only met but exceeded.

Before joining O2X, Sara had a distinguished career in the Air Force, where she served as an intelligence analyst and operational leader, overseeing teams both large and small. Her global deployments, including time with a Special Operations Team in the Middle East, have provided her with significant experience in remote operations and the tactical application of cutting-edge technology. Throughout her military career, she collaborated extensively with various Intelligence Agencies, honing her skills in strategic decision-making and team leadership.

Sara holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Leadership and a Master’s Degree in Strategic Intelligence. Her lifelong journey in fitness, health, and wellness is marked by voracious reading and data analysis, alongside firsthand experiences of holistic transformation through performance optimization. A certified Spin instructor, she currently competes in trail and road running, as well as CrossFit events. In her free time, Sara enjoys golfing, running, hiking, and reading in nature. Although Washington, D.C., is her home base, she embraces a minimalist lifestyle and travels frequently, often with just a backpack. Sara is passionate about empowering others to grow their holistic selves through physical, mental, and emotional strength, emphasizing the importance of health, wellness, and nutrition.

Account Executive, Federal

Cameron Baird

Cameron Baird is a Federal Account Executive at O2X Human Performance, where he focuses on delivering customized human performance solutions to federal law enforcement and other federal agencies. Drawing on his military expertise and passion for fitness, Cameron ensures that tactical professionals are equipped with top-tier resources and training to enhance operational readiness and resilience in critical situations.

Before joining O2X, Cameron served as an Infantry Officer in the United States Marine Corps, leading diverse teams in challenging environments. His roles included Platoon Commander and Company Executive Officer with the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines in Camp Pendleton, CA, where he deployed on the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Cameron later commanded the Special Training Company at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, where he mentored and trained thousands of recruits. He concluded his active-duty career at Officer Candidates School in Quantico, VA, serving in roles such as Tactics Officer in Charge.

Originally from Michigan, Cameron earned the rank of Eagle Scout in high school, reflecting his early dedication to leadership and service. A lifelong athlete, he competed in football, wrestling, and rugby, winning a state championship in rugby and playing collegiately at the U.S. Naval Academy. He went on to earn a Master in Business for Veterans (MBV) from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. An avid reader and fitness enthusiast, Cameron enjoys tackling fitness challenges, martial arts, and ultramarathons. He resides with his wife, two young children, and German Shepherd, balancing family life with a relentless drive to push boundaries and support those who serve.

Client Manager, East

Joshua Stuart-Shor

Josh Stuart-Shor is the East Client Manager for O2X and a Lead Instructor. In this capacity, Josh ensures that the needs of all tactical athletes and client organizations are met through regular engagement and on-site coordination. His role is pivotal in maintaining the effectiveness of O2X’s human performance programs, working directly with clients to ensure optimal program implementation and support.

Prior to joining O2X, Josh served in the United States Army, initially as an Infantry Officer in the 82nd Airborne Division before transitioning to a Green Beret with the 3rd Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, NC. Throughout his military career, Josh completed several combat deployments across Iraq, Afghanistan, and Central Asia, earning numerous combat awards and decorations. During 2015 to 2016, Josh was involved in the Army’s Tactical Human Optimization Rapid Rehabilitation & Reconditioning Program (THOR3) to recover from injuries sustained during combat. This experience fueled his passion for human performance, inspiring him to help others recover physically and mentally to return to duty.

After nearly a decade of service, Josh transitioned out of the Army to pursue new opportunities. In addition to his role with O2X, he works as a Lieutenant for a major metropolitan fire department. Josh holds a Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution from the University of Massachusetts at Boston. He currently resides in Boston, MA, with his wife, Jessica, their four children—Camden, Abigail, Harrison, and Anne—and their dog, Buck. In their free time, the family enjoys skiing, hiking, and fly-fishing in the mountains of Vermont.

Program Manager

Brendan Stickles

Brendan Stickles is a Program Manager with O2X Human Performance, overseeing Federal Government Accounts. He joined the O2X team in September 2023 after serving as a consultant with Boston Consulting Group. Prior to that, Brendan served as the Special Advisor for Defense to Vice Presidents Kamala Harris and Mike Pence. During his two years at the White House, he managed a wide-ranging portfolio that included veterans’ issues, national security, defense innovation, and military personnel and readiness as Director on the National Security Council.

Before transitioning to his advisory roles, Brendan had a distinguished career as a Navy Commander, flying jets for over 18 consecutive years and completing more than 550 carrier landings. On his final operational deployment aboard the USS Eisenhower, he commanded an EA-18 squadron that earned two consecutive “Battle E” awards for combat efficiency during Operation Inherent Resolve. Among his proudest moments in the cockpit was performing the 2008 Major League Baseball Opening Day flyover for his favorite team, the New York Mets.

Originally from Glen Rock, New Jersey, Brendan graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a degree in history. He also earned an MBA from the University of North Carolina and an MPA from Harvard. Brendan lives in Bethesda, MD, with his wife and their three school-aged children.

Events Manager

Rachel Miller

Rachel Miller is the Events Manager at O2X, where she plays a vital role in the Operations Team. In this capacity, she manages the staffing, planning, travel, and execution of O2X’s programs throughout the year. Rachel oversees a network of over 250 O2X subject matter experts and instructors, ensuring seamless operations for each event. She is committed to building strong relationships, growing the O2X family network, and fostering a positive and rewarding work environment for current staff, creating a culture of support and collaboration.

Before joining O2X, Rachel worked in the Events and Experiences team at Fenway Sports Management, the sports marketing agency of the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Sports Group. In her role, she managed fan travel experiences, corporate events, and brand activations for several FSG entities and partners, including the Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals, Liverpool F.C., Jim Beam, Dunkin’, and the Red Sox Foundation. Her diverse experience in sports marketing and event management gave her a strong foundation in large-scale event coordination. Rachel also holds a Master’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism with a sports focus from Boston University, where she completed her undergraduate degree in Journalism.

Rachel was a standout member of the Women’s Soccer team at Boston University, where she was a two-time captain, two-time All-Patriot League selection, and three-time Patriot League Champion. Her dedication to sports extended beyond her college career, as she traveled to Uganda with Coaches Across Continents to promote the power of sport for social impact. After her soccer career, Rachel ran the Boston Marathon to raise funds for the Boston Bruins Foundation, igniting her passion for running and endurance training. Born and raised in South Shore, MA, Rachel is a member of the East Bridgewater High School Athletics Hall of Fame for her achievements in soccer and track and field. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, dog, and exploring the outdoors.

Marketing Manager

Joe McCullough

Joe McCullough is the Marketing Manager at O2X Human Performance, where he is responsible for creating, planning, and executing the company’s marketing initiatives. His work includes managing social media, email campaigns, public relations, the O2X Human Performance Podcast, and the company’s blog. Joe’s role is central to promoting O2X’s mission and educating the public on the importance of human performance, especially within tactical communities.

Before joining O2X, Joe received a conditional appointment to the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), where he enrolled in 2014 after completing a preparatory program at the New Mexico Military Institute. While at USMMA, Joe was a founding member of the Kings Point Endurance Club, served as a 3/C Petty Officer to the Regimental Commander, and sailed as a cadet aboard the S.S. Horizon Pacific. In June 2016, Joe suffered a cervical level spinal cord injury that left him a quadriplegic. After undergoing months of intensive therapy and rehabilitation, he regained enough function to live independently, a testament to his resilience and problem-solving skills honed during his time at the Academy.

Joe attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy as part of the Maritime Logistics and Security Program, where he gained valuable leadership and problem-solving experience. Despite the challenges posed by his injury, Joe’s determination and adaptive mindset have shaped his professional journey. Since his recovery, Joe has built a successful career with O2X, holding roles as Operations Coordinator and Experience Coordinator before becoming Marketing Manager. Outside of work, Joe’s perseverance and growth post-injury continue to inspire those around him.

Curriculum & Learning Design Manager

Katy Turner

Dr. Katy Tran Turner is the Curriculum and Learning Design Manager at O2X, where she is responsible for compiling content, researching relevant background information, and helping create world-class training materials for a variety of clients and events. Additionally, Katy serves as an O2X Mental Performance Specialist, specializing in developing mental skills that optimize performance in high-pressure, fast-paced, and dynamic environments. Her expertise focuses on enhancing decision-making, confidence, self-regulation, and present-moment focus during high-stress performance moments.

Dr. Turner has a rich history of working with high-performance teams in various settings. She served as the mental performance coach for the Buffalo Sabres for five seasons and spent two seasons with the Buffalo Bills, where she contributed to multidisciplinary teams providing holistic support. Before her time with professional athletes in Western New York, Katy worked with soldiers at Fort Bragg, NC, providing mental performance training for tactical athletes. Her experience also includes working in NCAA Division I athletics departments in student-athlete services and supporting a wide range of sports.

Dr. Turner holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology with a specialization in Sport and Performance Psychology from Florida State University. She also earned a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from Kent State University and undergraduate degrees in Biology and Exercise & Sport Science from UNC-Chapel Hill. While at UNC, Katy was the starting goaltender for the field hockey team, earning All-America honors. She is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology and a member of the American Psychological Association Division 47. In addition to her role at O2X, Dr. Turner serves as an adjunct professor. Her research has focused on team dynamics and coordination. Katy currently resides in Michigan with her husband, two children, and two dogs, where she enjoys teaching and learning about high-performance strategies and performing under pressure.

Digital Products Manager

Trevor Sheasley

Trevor Sheasley is the O2X Digital Products Manager, where he leads product innovation and ensures the excellence of O2X’s digital offerings. Trevor is responsible for overseeing project management, ensuring deadlines are met, and incorporating user feedback for continuous product improvement. He serves as a liaison between clients and the technical team, ensuring exceptional customer service and prompt resolution of technical issues. Trevor’s expertise in human performance also ensures that the quality of the content remains top-tier. Additionally, he works closely with On-site Human Performance Specialists and plays a key role in onboarding new clients and employees, contributing significantly to O2X’s success.

Before his current role, Trevor served as an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist at the Arlington County Fire Department, where he specialized in Strength and Conditioning. With over 7 years of experience in the human performance field, Trevor’s career began as an Army Reservist, where he was responsible for overseeing his platoon’s physical readiness program while earning his Bachelor’s in Exercise Science. His career has since expanded to include roles with all branches of the military through The Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA, and Division 1 athletes at Georgetown University. Most recently, Trevor worked with the officers of the United States Capitol Police, further deepening his expertise in supporting tactical populations.

Trevor holds a Bachelor’s in Exercise Science and is currently pursuing a master’s program with a dual concentration in Tactical Strength and Conditioning and Rehabilitation Sciences. His passion for human performance and supporting those he serves continues to drive his career. Trevor’s dedication to improving the health and performance of tactical athletes and first responders is evident in his career and education. Outside of his professional life, Trevor enjoys staying active and continues to deepen his knowledge of human performance in both tactical and rehabilitation settings.

Operations Coordinator

Dave Burke

Dave Burke is the Operations Coordinator at O2X, where he is a key member of the Operations department. In this role, Dave manages logistics to support O2X’s events and on-site specialists, ensuring smooth execution across all programs. He is responsible for organizing shipping to and from events nationwide, ensuring that every O2X training program is fully equipped and operational. As O2X continues to grow, Dave plays a critical role in enhancing processes and strengthening the O2X brand through innovative solutions and creative problem-solving.

Before joining O2X, Dave served as a manager at a local beach in Cohasset, MA, where he worked closely with first responders, including emergency management teams and the local fire and police departments. During this time, Dave designed and implemented safety procedures and fitness programs, significantly improving team training and promoting a safer beach environment. His experience in program management and team leadership in a high-stakes setting provided him with valuable skills that he brings to his role at O2X, ensuring that each event is prepared for success.

Dave earned his Bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship in May 2022 and is currently pursuing his MBA at Lasell University. As a two-time captain of the Lasell Men’s Lacrosse team, Dave led his team to a Greater Northeast Athletic Conference championship and was a multi-year all-conference player, also being a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year as a SSDM. Raised on the Massachusetts South Shore, Dave is passionate about competition, teamwork, and adventure. In his personal time, he enjoys traveling, surfing, and spending time with his family, friends, and three dogs.

Content Coordinator

Alyssa Cafarelli

Alyssa Cafarelli is the Content Coordinator at O2X, where she collaborates with various departments to help deliver high-impact training and education resources, marketing materials, and client reports. In this role, Alyssa plays a key part in ensuring that O2X’s materials meet the needs of tactical athletes and organizations, contributing to the development of effective resources that support health, performance, and recovery. Her ability to work across departments helps ensure seamless delivery of impactful content that benefits O2X’s clients and mission.

Before joining O2X, Alyssa worked as a preschool teacher for six years, a role that nurtured her passion for education and creativity. Her experience in education has fueled her desire to help others learn and grow, which she continues to do at O2X by creating and managing content. Alyssa also comes from a family of tactical athletes, which influenced her deep connection to O2X’s mission of supporting those who serve and protect the country. Her background in both teaching and content creation has made her an essential part of the team at O2X.

Alyssa earned a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Media from Plymouth State University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude and was a member of the Communications National Honors Society, Lambda Pi Eta. While attending Plymouth State, Alyssa developed a passion for health and fitness by creating digital content for the university’s recreation department. In her personal life, Alyssa is passionate about giving back to the tactical community and continues to find inspiration in the work of those who serve the country.

Staffing and Travel Coordinator

Brooke Williams

Brooke Williams is the Staffing and Travel Coordinator at O2X, where she plays a crucial role in supporting O2X’s Human Performance training events. In this position, Brooke assists with all aspects of travel booking and event coordination, ensuring that O2X’s training programs run smoothly across the country. Her work involves coordinating logistics for staff and trainers, helping to facilitate successful events and enhance the experience for both participants and staff members.

Before joining O2X, Brooke worked with enterprise organizations in SaaS sales, where she focused on implementing scalable solutions and streamlining content experiences for clients. Her background in business and technology helped her develop a keen understanding of operations and project management. Additionally, Brooke’s entrepreneurial studies at Bryant University sparked a deep passion for health and wellness, which led her to earn certifications in Nutrition and Personal Training, complementing her work in business.

Brooke graduated from Bryant University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Entrepreneurship. While at Bryant, she co-captained the university’s first Women’s Club Lacrosse team during its inaugural season, showcasing her leadership skills and love for competitive sports. Brooke also studied international business abroad in Uruguay and Argentina, cultivating a passion for cultural exchange and travel. Raised in a family of service members, both military and first responders, she has a strong commitment to giving back to tactical communities. In her free time, Brooke enjoys traveling, staying active, and contributing to causes that support those who serve others.

Logistics Coordinator

Hugh Hamill

Hugh Hamill is the Logistics Coordinator at O2X, where he is an integral member of the operations team. In this role, Hugh is responsible for managing the logistics and operational requirements for O2X Human Performance events and On-Site Specialists. He oversees the coordination, organization, packaging, and shipment of materials to various events across the country, ensuring everything is delivered on time and in perfect condition. Additionally, Hugh helps manage inventory and logistical needs at O2X’s headquarters, playing a key role in maintaining efficient operations.

Before joining O2X, Hugh gained valuable experience as a supervisor within the Intramural Athletic Board at Providence College, where he developed his passion for sports, health, and physical well-being. This role allowed him to gain leadership experience and further his interest in the logistics of athletic events. Hugh also worked as a marketing intern at a local bank on the South Shore of Massachusetts, where he honed his skills in communication and organizational support, contributing to his broad experience in both operations and marketing.

Hugh graduated from Providence College in May 2023 with a major in marketing and a minor in sociology. Growing up on the South Shore of Massachusetts, Hugh was an avid sports fan and played multiple varsity sports during his time at Marshfield High School. Outside of work, Hugh enjoys spending time with friends and family, skiing, and staying active outdoors. His love for sports and fitness continues to drive his personal and professional endeavors.

EDUCATION COORDINATOR

Ashley Tropea

Ashley Tropea is an Education Coordinator at O2X, based in Massachusetts, where she utilizes her extensive expertise in human performance, injury prevention, and musculoskeletal injury management to design and implement educational programs. In this role, she develops content and training aimed at helping tactical professionals enhance their performance, resilience, and recovery. Ashley excels at simplifying complex medical and performance concepts into practical, engaging materials, ensuring they can be easily applied by professionals across various industries to improve both their physical and mental well-being.

Before transitioning to her role as an Education Coordinator, Ashley worked as an on-site Human Performance Specialist for O2X, where she directly supported industrial athletes in optimizing performance and reducing injury risks. This hands-on experience with tactical athletes has greatly influenced the educational programs she now creates. Prior to joining O2X, Ashley spent several years working as a state-licensed, nationally certified Athletic Trainer in both athletic and clinical settings. Notably, she spent five years as the primary athletic trainer at a high school, managing injury prevention and rehabilitation. She also collaborated with orthopedic surgeons in a hospital’s sports medicine department and rehabilitation clinics, gaining significant experience in musculoskeletal care.

Ashley earned her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Bridgewater State University in 2015. She continued to expand her expertise in patient education, wound care, casting and bracing, and durable medical equipment application during her time in an orthopedic surgical clinic. Born and raised on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Ashley is passionate about hiking with her dog, reading, and spending quality time with her friends and family. Her background in injury prevention, rehabilitation, and education allows her to continue impacting others’ well-being by providing valuable insights into performance and recovery.

TALENT ACQUISITION COORDINATOR

Ashley Roberts

Ashley Roberts is the Talent Acquisition Coordinator at O2X, where she plays a crucial role in supporting the People Operations team. Her primary responsibility is attracting top talent to O2X and guiding candidates through an efficient interview and onboarding process. In addition to her talent acquisition duties, Ashley is also involved in supporting employee engagement and development across all departments, helping O2X build and sustain a dedicated and skilled team as the company continues to grow.

With over 8 years of experience as a certified athletic trainer, Ashley has worked in a variety of environments, including secondary schools, collegiate athletics, military settings, and industrial contexts. Her passion for serving military personnel and veterans is deeply personal, as she is the spouse of a Marine veteran. This connection fuels her work and drives her commitment to supporting those who serve. Before her current position, Ashley contributed significantly to hiring and onboarding new athletic trainers and served as an industrial athletic trainer, where she gained a broad range of knowledge and honed her expertise in multiple sectors.

Ashley holds a Master of Science in Athletic Training from the University of Central Oklahoma, providing her with a strong foundation to excel in her profession. Outside of her work, she enjoys staying active through workouts, outdoor adventures such as boating, and spending quality time with her family, including her daughter and two beloved pit bulls. Ashley’s vibrant personality, strong work ethic, and unwavering dedication make her a valued asset to both O2X and her community.

Creative Content Specialist

Elmer Diaz

Elmer Diaz is the Creative Content Specialist at O2X, where he produces high-quality visual content to advance the company’s mission. With a focus on delivering engaging and impactful media, Elmer specializes in creating storytelling visuals that resonate with diverse audiences across multiple platforms

With over five years of experience in the field, Elmer has built a diverse portfolio of work. He previously served as the Media Director at SoldierfitHQ, where he developed and managed multimedia projects. Additionally, Elmer has collaborated on various freelance projects with renowned brands such as CBS Sports and Lululemon, showcasing his versatility and creativity in video production.

Elmer holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts from Hood College, where he developed a foundation in storytelling and media production. Outside of his professional life, he enjoys exploring the visual arts, diving into films, and spending quality time with his family. Elmer’s passion for storytelling continues to inspire both his professional work and personal pursuits.

HP Integration Manager, West

Daniel Williams

Daniel Williams is the Human Performance Integration Specialist Manager for O2X Human Performance on the West Coast. Starting as an On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in Strength & Conditioning, Daniel has cultivated extensive expertise in supporting tactical athletes. With over 12 years of experience in the human performance field, Daniel has a deep passion for working with tactical athletes, helping them achieve peak performance and resilience.

Since 2015, Daniel has served as a Human Performance Specialist in the special operations community. His career began with the Air Force Special Operations Command, working with the 24th Special Operations Wing, Special Tactics Training Squadron (STTS). After two years with STTS, Daniel transitioned to Naval Special Warfare Group 1, where he spent over four years supporting Navy SEALs in optimizing their performance and readiness.

Daniel’s dedication to human performance and his extensive experience make him an invaluable resource for tactical professionals committed to achieving operational excellence.

HP Integration Manager, East

Devon Smith

Devon Smith is the Human Performance Manager for the East Coast at O2X. As a Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach, he brings over a decade of human performance experience to the O2X team. In this role, Devon applies his expertise to support tactical athletes and organizations, driving optimal performance through personalized programs. His experience in working with diverse populations allows him to design holistic and impactful programs that enhance both mental and physical fortitude.

Prior to joining O2X, Devon was a strength and conditioning coach at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he helped Cadets develop their athletic performance and transition to the Army Combat Fitness Test. Before his time at West Point, Devon coached at several privately owned gyms and academies across New York and New England, working with athletes ranging from youth to professional levels, as well as general and tactical populations. His diverse experience in human performance has shaped his holistic approach to training, focusing on physical conditioning, sports psychology, and nutrition.

Devon holds an undergraduate degree in Health and Human Performance, a Master’s in Sports Psychology, and has pursued extensive education in sports nutrition. His background also includes years of experience as an orthopedic trauma consultant, where he gained expertise in musculoskeletal injury from both a surgical and rehabilitative perspective. Devon’s athletic background includes competing internationally for a USA Select lacrosse team and, more recently, in a variety of strength sports, including Strongman competitions. Raised in a military family, Devon is passionate about serving those who serve, and he currently resides in New Hampshire with his wife, daughter, and their four-legged “fuzzy” kids.

Senior Frontend Engineer

Crystal Schurko

Crystal Schurko is a Senior Front End Engineer at O2X, where she focuses on web and mobile development, introducing new features and intuitive designs that enhance the user experience. With a strong background in operations, she also plays a key role in optimizing the agile development process, helping to ensure efficient collaboration between engineering and product teams.

Before joining O2X, Crystal led software engineering efforts in the healthcare and publishing industries, serving as a Lead Software Engineer at Florida Blue and Banyan Hill Publishing. She has worked across diverse industries, including client-facing development at MercuryWorks and earlier experience in embedded systems at Magic Leap. Her expertise spans frontend development, agile methodologies, and product-driven engineering, allowing her to bridge technical challenges with user needs. Crystal has a rich background in certifications and technical achievements, including winning hackathons and earning credentials in areas such as full-stack web development, embedded systems, and modern frontend frameworks like React and Next.js.

Outside of work, she is an avid reader, researcher, and designer, always exploring new ways to expand her knowledge. She lives in South Florida with her husband and two daughters.

Senior Mobile Engineer

Daniel Velez

Daniel Velez is a Senior Mobile Engineer at O2X, where he leads the development of high-performance mobile applications that drive forward the company’s mission to optimize human performance. With a foundation in business and a passion for technology, Daniel brings a strategic mindset to mobile engineering, creating seamless and intuitive user experiences that meet real-world needs.

Prior to joining O2X, Daniel played key roles at companies such as Reggora, Dragon Army, and TrueNorth, where he contributed to the design and deployment of impactful mobile solutions across diverse sectors. His strengths lie in solving complex technical challenges, writing clean and maintainable code, and fostering strong collaboration across teams. Daniel made the leap into tech in his late twenties and has since carved out a path defined by growth, curiosity, and a relentless drive to improve. His work reflects a deep commitment to learning and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in mobile development.

Outside of engineering, Daniel is a dedicated enthusiast of combat sports and soccer, and enjoys any challenge that pushes him to grow, both personally and professionally.

On-site Human Performance Specialist

Ryan Glaize

Ryan Glaize is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in Strength and Conditioning. He leverages his expertise to help tactical athletes maintain optimal health and return to duty stronger after injuries. Drawing on his background in collegiate athletics, Ryan focuses on injury prevention and recovery strategies to support tactical athletes’ physical readiness and resilience.

Before joining O2X, Ryan worked with the South Carolina Gamecocks football team as a strength and conditioning coach. Prior to that, he spent two years as a graduate assistant at Liberty University, where he gained experience in strength and conditioning as well as sports nutrition while earning his master’s degree. At Liberty, Ryan coached Olympic sports athletes before transitioning to football, honing his skills in athlete performance and recovery.

Ryan holds a bachelor’s degree in Homeland Security from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he also worked with the Richmond City Police Department, training and coaching officers. In addition to his academic and professional accomplishments, Ryan is passionate about applying his diverse experience to improve the health and performance of tactical athletes.

On-site Human Performance Specialist

Charlie Badawy

Charlie Badawy is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist who specializes in Injury Prevention as a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). He is a board-recognized Sports Certified Specialist (SCS), NSCA Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), and USA Weightlifting (USAW) Level 1 Sports Performance Coach. Charlie’s expertise lies in blending rehabilitation with performance training to help athletes prevent injuries and enhance their physical capabilities.

Before joining O2X, Charlie honed his skills in sports physical therapy at a variety of esteemed institutions. He completed postdoctoral education in sports physical therapy at the University of Miami, where he worked with the Rowing and Swim & Dive teams. His specialization was further advanced during his time at Wake Forest University, where he worked with Division I football, basketball, and baseball teams. After his fellowship, Charlie remained at Wake Forest as a Clinical Sports Physical Therapist, treating athletes recovering from athletic injuries. He also served as Program Coordinator for the D-I Sports fellowship program and taught at High Point University’s DPT program, focusing on strength and conditioning in sports physical therapy. His research interests include ACL reconstruction (ACLR) rehabilitation, and he has published in this area.

Charlie holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise from Virginia Tech (2014) and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Pittsburgh (2019). His strong foundation in strength and conditioning began in 2014, with internships and roles in the private sector as a strength coach and personal trainer. He also worked with a mixed martial arts gym and helped develop a strength and conditioning program for a local adaptive sled hockey team. In his personal time, Charlie is an avid practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and weightlifting and enjoys hiking and trail running to push his physical limits.

On-site Human Performance Specialist

Gary Heron

Gary Heron is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist and Program Manager who specializes Strength and Conditioning for the City of Berkeley Public Safety. In this role, he oversees the city’s human performance program, delivering comprehensive training, resources, and strategies designed to equip public servants for success both on and off the job.

With over 15 years of experience in the human performance field, Gary has held key leadership roles, including serving as the Lead Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Apprenticeship Course under the United States Air Force’s Special Warfare Training Wing. Before that, he was the Director of Strength and Conditioning at the University of California, Riverside, where his tenure was marked by multiple team and individual Big West Conference championships, a complete facility renovation, and the development of an internship program that produced strength coaches who now work across all levels of competitive sport. Gary has also worked in the private sector and served as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

A native of Riverside, CA, Gary earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Kinesiology from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2007 and 2008, respectively. A self-described underachieving baseball player, his passion for sports and performance led him to pursue a career in strength and conditioning, where he remains deeply connected to competitive athletics.

On-site Human Performance Specialist

Jacqueline Martinez

Jacqueline Martinez is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist who specializes in Injury Prevention as a Certified Athletic Trainer for the City of Berkeley Public Safety. In her role, Jacqueline is dedicated to supporting the health and well-being of public safety personnel through injury prevention strategies, rehabilitation programs, and individualized care. Her approach emphasizes building trust and fostering relationships to help individuals perform at their best.

Before joining O2X, Jacqueline served as an Athletic Trainer at the University of California, Berkeley, working with the men’s and women’s gymnastics teams. In this role, she managed a broad spectrum of injuries, from acute to chronic, including surgical and non-surgical rehabilitation programs for dislocated joints and overuse injuries. Her work extended beyond protocols, as she prioritized treating the whole person rather than just the injury, excelling in collaborative environments and providing holistic care.

Jacqueline’s passion lies in helping others achieve their goals and investing in their success. Her professional experience has reinforced her belief in the importance of trust, teamwork, and a people-centered approach to injury prevention and rehabilitation. She takes pride in empowering individuals to return to doing what they love, stronger and more resilient than before.

On-site Human Performance Specialist

Myles Brown

Myles Brown is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist and Program Manager specializing in Strength and Conditioning. In this role, he leverages his expertise to develop and implement performance programs that enhance physical readiness and resilience. Myles brings a wealth of experience to his current position, emphasizing strength, mobility, and injury prevention strategies to optimize performance for tactical athletes.

Before joining O2X, Myles served as the Installation Lead Strength and Conditioning Coach at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Alaska, where he led the implementation of the U.S. Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness program. His prior experience includes three seasons with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill football team, where he spearheaded the developmental training program for incoming freshmen and managed the team’s mobility and flexibility initiatives. Myles has also worked with men’s football and women’s lacrosse at the University of Connecticut and trained tactical athletes in the Human Performance Department at the United States Army Special Operations Command in Fort Bragg, NC.

Myles earned his M.S. in Kinesiology from East Carolina University and a B.A. in Exercise and Sports Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He holds multiple certifications, including Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator (TSAC-F) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, as well as credentials from USA Weightlifting and Functional Range Systems.

On-site Human Performance Specialist

Brad Pasker

Brad Pasker is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist who specializes in Strength & Conditioning and is the Human Performance Advisor for the United States Army Reserve – South Carolina (USAR-SC). In this role, Brad focuses on enhancing physical readiness, optimizing performance, and supporting the holistic health of tactical professionals to meet the demands of their roles.

Prior to his current position, Brad served in the United States Army for eight years, where he was an Instructor for the Army Physical Fitness School at Fort Jackson, SC. After his military service, he gained valuable experience coaching CrossFit, providing performance training for elite-level athletes, and conducting orthopedic rehabilitation for clients with lower back pain.

Brad earned his bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from the University of Northern Iowa in 2012 and later completed his master’s degree in Exercise Science at the University of South Carolina. In his free time, he enjoys weightlifting, golfing, and visiting the firing range.

On-site Human Performance Specialist

Brandon Athey

Brandon Athey is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in Strength and Conditioning with the Howard County Fire Department. In this role, he focuses on enhancing the physical readiness of first responders by designing and implementing strength and conditioning programs tailored to the unique demands of their profession. Brandon’s expertise lies in optimizing performance, preventing injuries, and fostering a culture of health and fitness among tactical populations.

Before joining O2X, Brandon amassed six years of experience as a strength and conditioning coach. From 2021 to 2023, he was part of the U.S. Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) Program with the 18th Field Artillery Brigade at Fort Bragg, NC. There, he played a pivotal role in developing the H2F Program, establishing strength and conditioning initiatives at the unit level, and creating the Steel Fitness Trainer (SFT) course, a comprehensive “train-the-trainer” program that certified soldiers as H2F trainers. Earlier in his career, Brandon worked in collegiate athletics at Hagerstown Community College, Shippensburg University, Clemson University, and Mount St. Mary’s University. Notably, he founded the strength and conditioning program at Hagerstown and served as an adjunct professor of exercise science, a role he continues online today.

Brandon holds a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Salisbury University and a Master of Arts in Sport Coaching with a focus on Strength and Conditioning from the University of Denver. He is certified as an NSCA-RSCC and NSCA-CSCS,*D, reflecting his high level of expertise in the field. Brandon’s diverse background in tactical and collegiate settings, combined with his dedication to teaching and program development, equips him to contribute meaningfully to any human performance initiative.

On-site Human Performance Specialist

Wayne Sasso

Wayne Sasso is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in Mental Performance with the Arlington County Police Department. In this role, he focuses on enhancing cognitive readiness and psychological resilience for law enforcement personnel. Through individual coaching, mental skills training, and curriculum development, Wayne supports officers in building mental toughness, managing stress, and improving overall performance in high-stakes environments.

Wayne has over eight years of experience in the human performance field, working with a diverse range of populations. Prior to joining O2X, he was part of the Optimizing the Human Weapon System program in Tucson, AZ, where he developed and implemented a psychological program for fighter pilots of the A-10 Warthog. His approach included a standardized curriculum, one-on-one coaching, and cognitive training integrated into physical readiness activities. Before that, Wayne served as a Mental Conditioning Coordinator, providing sport psychology services to athletes from youth to professional levels, helping them perform under pressure, recover from setbacks, and strengthen their mental game.

Wayne earned his Bachelor’s degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology from West Virginia University in 2015, where he also gained experience as a strength coach for high school and college athletes. He went on to complete a Master’s degree in Counseling with a focus on Sport and Performance Psychology from Boston University in 2018, interning with BU athletics and Lesley University athletics during his studies. Outside of work, Wayne is a dedicated Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner and enjoys spending time hiking with his wife and their dog Winnie or relaxing at local breweries.

On-site Human Performance Specialist

Kelli Kehoe

Kelli Kehoe is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in Mental Performance with the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office. In her role, Kelli leverages her diverse background in education, athletics, and tactical training to address the psychological aspects of performance. She works with tactical athletes to enhance mental resilience and develop critical skills that improve performance in high-pressure situations.

Prior to joining O2X, Kelli worked extensively with the U.S. Army, providing mental performance coaching to thousands of soldiers. Her work focused on strengthening mental resilience and teaching skills for both personal and professional application. Earlier in her career, Kelli supported collegiate athletes, where her contributions to mental performance enhancement helped her team achieve the pinnacle of success—a National Championship. Her passion lies in equipping individuals and teams with the tools to excel through mental toughness and performance optimization.

Kelli holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Exercise Sciences and Sports Management from Queens University of Charlotte and a Master’s in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology from Barry University. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Psychology (PsyD) with a specialization in Sport and Performance Psychology from The University of Arizona. Outside of work, Kelli enjoys staying active at her local CrossFit gym or relaxing on the beach with her husband and their dogs.

On-site Human Performance Specialist

Alex Redshaw

Alex Redshaw is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in Strength and Conditioning with the Arlington County Fire Department. In this role, he designs and implements fitness programs tailored to the demands of firefighting, focusing on enhancing operational readiness and long-term health for first responders. Alex leverages his expertise in movement quality, injury prevention, and physical performance to support firefighters in maintaining peak condition throughout their careers.

Before joining O2X, Alex held key roles in both tactical and athletic performance. He served as the Functional Fitness Coordinator for the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service (SAMFS), where he developed and delivered comprehensive health and wellness programs, including fitness assessments, strength and conditioning sessions, and health education for firefighters. Prior to his work with the SAMFS, Alex was the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the University of South Australia Women’s Soccer Team and an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for Basketball South Australia, where he designed evidence-based training programs and mentored interns working with elite junior athletes.

Originally from Australia, Alex earned a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science and completed a Master of Research (Health Sciences) through a scholarship with the SAMFS. His thesis, The Effect of Aging on Movement Quality in Australian Urban Firefighters, underscores his commitment to optimizing performance and well-being for tactical populations. A passionate advocate for community health, Alex also enjoys cricket and Australian Rules Football, both of which he played competitively before moving to the United States in 2023.

On-site Human Performance Specialist

Carson Fralin

Carson Fralin is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in Strength and Conditioning with the West Palm Beach Fire Department. In this role, Carson designs and implements performance programs that enhance the physical readiness and resilience of first responders, ensuring they are prepared to meet the demands of their critical work while reducing the risk of injury.

Before joining O2X, Carson served under the U.S. Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) program with the 82nd Airborne Division. Embedded as a Strength and Conditioning Coach within the 2nd Battalion of the 504th Paratrooper Infantry Regiment, he advised officers and NCOs on optimizing physical training for combat readiness. Carson also specialized in preparing soldiers for selection schools, including SOAR 160th, SFAS, Ranger, Civil Affairs, and PSYOPS, while developing recovery programs to rehabilitate and reintegrate soldiers after their selection processes. Earlier in his career, Carson was the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Midlothian Athletic Club, where he worked with FC Richmond Soccer, the Richmond Generals Ice Hockey teams, and local fire stations in Chesterfield County, VA.

Carson earned both his Master’s in Kinesiology and Exercise Physiology and his Bachelor’s in Exercise Science from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is deeply passionate about supporting the health and performance of those who serve their communities and the nation. Outside of work, Carson enjoys staying active and continues to contribute to initiatives that improve the safety and quality of life for tactical and first responder populations.

On-site Human Performance Specialist

Benjamin Rosner

Benjamin Rosner is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist and Program Manager specializing in Strength and Conditioning with Baltimore County Public Safety. In this role, he supports public safety personnel by designing and implementing strength and conditioning programs that enhance performance, resilience, and overall wellness. His work focuses on ensuring that first responders are physically prepared for the demands of their critical roles.

Before joining O2X, Ben served as the Lead Strength and Conditioning Coach with the 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade at Fort Drum, NY, where he spent two years working with U.S. Army personnel. Prior to that, he gained over three years of experience in collegiate strength and conditioning. His roles included Graduate Fellow at Harvard University, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at the College of the Holy Cross, and Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at The College of Saint Rose, where he managed programming for 19 Division II varsity teams.

Ben holds a Master’s degree in Exercise and Sports Science from Merrimack College and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from SUNY Geneseo. He obtained a PhD in Health Sciences: Exercise and Sports Science at Liberty University. In his free time, Ben enjoys working out, exploring the outdoors, and taking leisurely walks with his dog, Charlie.

On-site Human Performance Specialist

Ryan O’Connell

Ryan O’Connell is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist who specializes in Strength & Conditioning with the 148th Air Support Operations Squadron. In this role, he leverages his expertise in strength and conditioning to optimize the performance and readiness of tactical athletes. With certifications as a NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and USA Weightlifting Level 1 Coach, Ryan is dedicated to supporting his clients in achieving peak physical performance.

Before joining O2X, Ryan was a key contributor to the U.S. Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) Program with the 18th Field Artillery Brigade at Fort Bragg/Liberty, NC, from 2021 to 2023. During this time, he developed and implemented strength and conditioning programs at the Battery level and assisted in establishing the H2F Program for the brigade. Notably, he co-created the Steel Fitness Trainer (SFT) course, a four-day program designed to certify soldiers as H2F trainers by providing education on strength and conditioning fundamentals, energy systems development, and integrating the pillars of H2F, such as nutrition, injury prevention, and cognitive performance. Prior to his tactical coaching role, Ryan worked in the private sector at Athletes Arena in Columbia, SC, while interning at the University of South Carolina.

Ryan discovered his passion for strength and conditioning during his service with the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, which inspired him to pursue a career in the field. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from the University of South Carolina, where he gained a solid foundation in human performance. Outside of work, Ryan enjoys coaching and competing in weightlifting, training in grappling and mixed martial arts, riding BMX, listening to heavy metal music, and exploring the outdoors. Committed to personal and professional growth, Ryan continually seeks opportunities to improve as a coach and individual.

On-site Human Performance Specialist

Joseph Sheffield

Joseph Sheffield is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in Strength & Conditioning with the 147th Air Support Operations Squadron. In this role, he brings over a decade of experience in coaching tactical populations to enhance performance, readiness, and resilience. His expertise includes designing and implementing strength and conditioning programs tailored to the unique demands of tactical athletes.

Previously, Joseph served as the Lead Strength & Conditioning Coach for the U.S. Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) Program with the 16th Military Police Brigade at Fort Liberty, overseeing coaching staff across multiple locations. He worked closely with military leadership to improve soldier lethality and combat readiness while also providing specialized combative-based instruction to enhance physical restraint and control skills. Before this, Joseph was a Strength & Conditioning Coach for the 18th Field Artillery Brigade, where he collaborated with unit fitness leaders, educated service members on exercise science principles, and designed tailored training programs, including for postpartum and pregnant service members. Earlier in his career, Joseph was the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for All-Marine Corps Sports and the All-Marine Wrestling Team and an instructor for the USMC High-Intensity Tactical Training (HITT) Program. Notably, he trained and coached a Marine who competed for Team USA at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Joseph holds a Bachelor of Science in Sports and Exercise Science from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro and a Master of Science in Exercise Physiology from the University of Texas-El Paso. His passion for tactical strength and conditioning is matched by his commitment to advancing the performance and well-being of those he trains.

On-site Human Performance Specialist

James Carson

James Carson is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in Strength & Conditioning with the 284th Air Support Operations Squadron. In his current role, James leverages his extensive expertise to enhance the physical readiness and performance of tactical athletes, aligning with O2X’s mission to optimize human performance.

Before joining O2X, James served as a Strength and Conditioning Coach with CRAFT, where he was instrumental in training and educating pilots in strength and conditioning principles to improve their operational effectiveness. His career also includes significant experience in collegiate athletics, having held Strength and Conditioning Coach positions at six NCAA universities. Notably, he served as the Director of Athletic Performance at the University of New Mexico, where he oversaw comprehensive training programs for student-athletes.

James earned his degree from Bucknell University, where he also competed as a defensive end on the football team, earning two varsity letters during his four-year collegiate career. His combination of athletic and professional experience underscores his commitment to helping individuals achieve peak performance in high-demand environments.

On-site Human Performance Specialist

Tim Bayley

Tim Bayley is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in Mental Performance with Berkeley Public Safety. In his role, Tim helps public safety professionals develop the mental tools needed to achieve high performance, navigate challenges, and excel both on and off the job. His work emphasizes building strong relationships and empowering individuals and teams to pursue their goals while appreciating the value of their daily experiences.

Tim brings a wealth of experience as a high-level athlete and mental performance expert. A former British Champion in the 800 meters, he competed globally for Great Britain and achieved several sub-four-minute miles during his post-collegiate career. He was recruited to the U.S. on a track and field scholarship to Iona University, where he became a two-time All-American, NCAA runner-up, and an inductee into the Iona Hall of Fame. His professional experience includes private consultancy work with clients worldwide, leveraging his expertise in sport and performance psychology.

Tim holds a doctorate in Sport and Performance Psychology from the University of Western States and is a certified mental performance consultant through the Association of Applied Sport Psychology. He lives in California with his wife, Priscilla, and their two sons, Ethan and Logan. Tim stays active through running and strength training and enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family, and cheering for his hometown English Premier League team, Brighton and Hove Albion.

On-site Human Performance Specialist

Jordan Hicks

Jordan Hicks is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in Injury Prevention as a Certified Athletic Trainer with the City of Phoenix Police Department. Jordan brings six years of experience in evaluating and rehabilitating musculoskeletal injuries. Her work focuses on supporting law enforcement personnel by enhancing their physical resilience, reducing injury risk, and promoting long-term wellness through targeted programs and individualized care.

Previously, Jordan served as a Sports Medicine Injury Prevention Athletic Trainer at Camp Pendleton, where she developed regiment-level athletic training programs, implemented concussion protocols, and improved overall fitness and mobility among service members. Her diverse background includes roles as an Industrial Athletic Trainer at Fit For Work in Oceanside, CA, and a Tactical Athletic Trainer with the Optimizing Human Weapons System team at Aviano Air Base in Italy and Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State. These roles highlight her adaptability and expertise in optimizing human performance across various environments.

Jordan earned her Master of Science in Sports Medicine: Strength and Conditioning from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from San Diego State University. A San Diego native, she has lived in Colorado, Washington, and Italy, which has fueled her love for exploring new places and enjoying the outdoors. In her free time, Jordan enjoys camping and embracing nature, reflecting her passion for promoting holistic health and well-being.

ON-SITE HUMAN PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST

Joshua Davies

Joshua Davies is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist and Program Manager specializing in Strength and Conditioning with the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services (DCFEMS). With a wealth of experience in professional sports, Joshua brings his expertise to this role, enhancing the physical performance of first responders. His most recent position was as a Performance Coach for Future, where he worked for a year and a half, focusing on optimizing the athletic abilities of individuals. Prior to that, Joshua spent two significant tenures with the Scarlets, a prominent professional rugby club in Wales, where he served as a strength and conditioning coach.

Joshua’s career has also taken him beyond the rugby field, most notably as the head of performance for the Chinese Olympic Committee. In this role, he was instrumental in crafting the training program for the Chinese wrestling team in preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, further showcasing his versatility in the sports performance domain. Additionally, Joshua spent three years in Australia, where he contributed significantly to a leading training facility, honing his skills and knowledge of sports performance in a different cultural and competitive context.

Joshua holds a master’s degree in Strength and Conditioning, and his deep-rooted passion for sports and fitness is the driving force behind his work. Originally from Wales, Joshua’s diverse international experiences have shaped his holistic approach to strength and conditioning. His commitment to enhancing athletic performance, whether in sports or tactical environments, continues to make a lasting impact on those he works with.

On-site Human Performance Specialist

Michael Vidas

Mike Vidas is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist and Program Manager specializing in Strength and Conditioning at HSWCWL-Norfolk. With a passion for leadership and personal development, Mike is committed to helping others reach their full potential. His role involves designing and implementing performance programs tailored to the specific needs of tactical athletes, ensuring they remain fit, functional, and ready for their demanding roles.

Before joining O2X, Mike spent over a decade as an entrepreneur, opening and managing three CrossFit gyms, including two in Taiwan and one in New Jersey. His entrepreneurial ventures deepened his love for helping others achieve their fitness goals. Additionally, Mike served four years in the Navy as an Aviation Ordnanceman and Aviation Warfare Systems Operator, deploying in support of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). His diverse background spans professional, collegiate, and high-level high school athletes, where he collaborated with orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists, and athletic trainers to create personalized fitness plans. Mike has also worked with individuals in the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and law enforcement to optimize their physical performance for operational readiness.

Mike holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science and a Master’s degree in Sociology. He also competed in soccer at the Division 1 level, further fueling his dedication to physical fitness. Outside of work, Mike is deeply committed to his family, including his wife Crystal, their three boys, and their Malinois, Madigan. Together, they enjoy outdoor activities like camping, hiking, and trail running year-round. Mike’s entrepreneurial spirit, dedication to fitness, and love for his family continue to drive his mission to inspire others to push beyond their limits and achieve their goals.

On-site Human Performance Specialist

Savannah Snead

Dr. Savannah Snead is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in Injury Prevention as a Doctoral Physical Therapist (DPT) with HSCWL-Norfolk. In this role, she provides expert physical therapy support, focusing on injury management and prevention to help individuals optimize their performance and maintain operational readiness. With a strong background in holistic care, Savannah is dedicated to helping clients achieve their physical potential and sustain long-term wellness.

Savannah’s professional experience includes rehabilitating athletes and service members recovering from conditions such as traumatic brain injuries and post-operative orthopedic issues. During her doctoral studies at Campbell University, she completed a rotation at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, where she collaborated with an interdisciplinary team to care for military members affected by traumatic brain injuries. This transformative experience ignited her passion for serving those in uniform, leading her to begin her career at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, where she treated service members across all branches of the military in an outpatient orthopedic setting.

Originally from a farm in Virginia, Savannah earned her bachelor’s degree in Human Biology from North Carolina State University in 2016 before completing her Doctor of Physical Therapy at Campbell University in 2019. Certified in Level I and II dry needling, she brings a comprehensive approach to injury prevention and recovery. Outside of work, Savannah and her husband reside in Suffolk, VA, where they enjoy running half marathons, hiking, and rock climbing. As an avid outdoor enthusiast, she is passionate about health, wellness, and empowering others to live their best lives.

On-site Human Performance Specialist

Lindsey Deppen

Lindsey Deppen is an O2X Human Performance Specialist specializing in Mental Performance at HSCWL – Norfolk. She is deeply passionate about helping elite athletes and performers reach their full potential by developing mental resilience and performance strategies. In her current role, Lindsey works with individuals to enhance their mental skills, focusing on areas like energy management, team cohesion, and leadership. She has built a reputation for her tailored approach to mental performance, which has proven beneficial to both tactical athletes and high-level performers.

Prior to joining O2X, Lindsey served as the Lead Performance Expert at Fort Eustis, VA, within the Ready and Resilient (R2) Program. In this role, she was a Master Resilience Trainer – Primary Instructor, teaching evidence-based resilience skills to Soldiers and emphasizing how these skills could be applied to both personal and professional aspects of life. She provided customized workshops to various units, including the 511th Engineer Dive Detachment and the TRADOC Band. Additionally, Lindsey traveled to numerous US Army installations, such as the United States Sergeants Major Academy and the United States Military Academy at West Point, to conduct resilience training. She has also worked individually with Soldiers, helping them achieve a range of personal goals, from earning their Expert Field Medical Badge to passing the Promotion Board.

Lindsey holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Mount Saint Mary College and a Master’s degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology from Springfield College. A former collegiate soccer player who earned all-conference honors, she now competes in sprint and Olympic distance triathlons. Outside of her professional career, Lindsey enjoys staying active and continues to challenge herself athletically. Her extensive background in psychology and performance training, combined with her athletic experience, drives her commitment to helping others optimize their mental and physical capabilities.

ON-SITE HUMAN PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST

Gabe Farias

Dr. Gabe Farias is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist and Program Manager specializing in Mental Performance with the Phoenix Police Department. In this role, Gabe focuses on enhancing the psychological resilience and mental skills of tactical populations, optimizing their performance both on and off duty. His work emphasizes the critical mental aspects that influence success in high-stress environments, providing tactical athletes with tools to gain a competitive edge and thrive under pressure.

Before joining O2X, Gabe worked extensively with the U.S. Army, engaging with thousands of soldiers to strengthen their mental resilience and performance. He leveraged his expertise in Sport and Performance Psychology to equip individuals and teams with essential mental skills for personal and professional success. His dedication to developing high-performing tactical athletes stems from a deep belief in the power of mental skills to drive success in challenging environments.

Gabe holds a Master’s in Performance Psychology from National University and an Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology from the University of Western States. He is currently pursuing a second doctorate in Organizational Leadership, reflecting his passion for continuous learning. Outside of work, Gabe enjoys spending time with his wife and two dogs, engaging in powerlifting, exploring the outdoors, and staying current on research and podcasts related to human performance. Balancing his academic rigor with his passion for fitness, he proudly refers to himself as a “Meathead-Academic.”

ON-SITE HUMAN PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST

Mike Hannegan

Mike Hannegan is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist who specializes in Injury Prevention as a Certified Athletic Trainer with the City of Irvine Police Department. Mike leverages his extensive expertise to support the health, resilience, and performance of law enforcement personnel. Through targeted injury prevention strategies, rehabilitation programs, and individualized care, he plays a key role in promoting the overall well-being of the department.

Mike has a distinguished career in professional athletic training, having worked with top-tier sports organizations. From 2012 to 2020, he served as the Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Anaheim Ducks in the NHL, where he coordinated sports medicine services for elite athletes. Before that, he held the same role with the St. Louis Blues from 2006 to 2012 and was the Head Athletic Trainer for their AHL affiliate in Peoria, IL. Most recently, he developed and implemented a military-based Sports Medicine and Injury Prevention Program for the United States Marine Corps’ 11th Regiment at Camp Pendleton, CA, with Spectrum Healthcare.

Mike earned his Master of Science in Athletic Training from California University of Pennsylvania in 2000, where he served as a Graduate Assistant. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Movement and Exercise Science at Chapman University in 1997, with a double emphasis in Athletic Training and Exercise Physiology. During his undergraduate years, he excelled as a soccer and lacrosse athlete and contributed as a Student Athletic Trainer for the baseball team. Outside of his professional roles, Mike co-owns and manages Compete Performance and Rehab in Yorba Linda, CA, a facility dedicated to sports performance and rehabilitation. He holds advanced certifications in Corrective Exercise, Performance Enhancement, Fitness Nutrition, and Golf Fitness, reflecting his commitment to lifelong learning and excellence in athletic training.

ON-SITE HUMAN PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST

Zachary Interewicz

Zachary Interewicz is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in Strength & Conditioning with the Frederick County Fire and Rescue. In his role, Zach works closely with firefighters to enhance both their physical and mental performance, ensuring they are well-equipped to handle the demands of their high-risk profession. His expertise in strength and conditioning, combined with his experience working with the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Combat Aviation Brigade, provides him with a unique understanding of human performance in high-stress environments.

Prior to joining the Frederick County Fire Department, Zach gained valuable experience in a variety of roles, including serving as a strength and conditioning/rehab specialist in hybrid Physical Therapy and Performance Facilities. He also served as the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, where he gained hands-on experience in elite sports training. These experiences allowed Zach to deepen his understanding of performance optimization, whether in sports or high-stakes professions like firefighting.

Zach holds a Master of Science degree in Exercise Science with a concentration in sport and exercise conditioning, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania. In his personal life, Zach enjoys staying active by playing ice hockey and spending time outdoors. He also enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, and cherishing time with friends and family, further emphasizing his balanced approach to life and performance.

ON-SITE HUMAN PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST

Joshua Berenbach

Joshua Berenbach is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist who specializes in Strength and Conditioning at the United States Secret Service. Leveraging his extensive background as an Army veteran, Josh dedicated eight years to military service, including a combat deployment with the renowned 1st Infantry Division. He furthered his education, earning a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Towson University. Throughout his career, Josh has exhibited versatility, working across NCAA Division I and Division III settings, and later transitioning to a private performance facility, where he refined his skills as a strength and conditioning coach.

In his past roles, Josh has demonstrated unwavering commitment and excellence across various domains. During his tenure as a strength and conditioning coach with the 82nd Airborne Division, he played a pivotal role in developing and implementing a selection preparation program, aiding soldiers in navigating special operations assessment programs successfully. Additionally, he contributed significantly to the Unit Fitness Leader program, bolstering force readiness through comprehensive education in strength and conditioning and program design. Drawing from his own military experience, Josh’s dedication to serving those who safeguard the nation reflects a profound sense of duty.

Josh’s educational background and professional endeavors underscore his multifaceted approach to his craft. His pursuit of a Master of Education in Coaching and Athletic Leadership from the University of Missouri exemplifies his commitment to continuous growth and learning. Beyond his professional pursuits, Josh finds fulfillment as a devoted husband and father to three children. In his leisure time, he enjoys a diverse array of hobbies, including strength training, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, fishing, and motorcycle riding, enriching his life outside the realm of his professional duties.

ON-SITE HUMAN PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST

Daniel Herring

Daniel Herring is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in Injury Prevention as a Certified Athletic Trainer with DCFEMS. In this role, he works alongside a multi-disciplinary team to optimize the physical health of first responders, focusing on corrective exercises to improve movement patterns and ensuring safe and effective return-to-duty programming. Dan is passionate about helping active populations reach their physical goals and enabling them to continue doing what they love.

Dan’s career has spanned various roles that allowed him to refine his expertise in athletic training. He began his professional journey at Cedarville University, where he earned a Bachelor’s in Athletic Training in 2016 while gaining hands-on experience with NCAA Division II baseball, track and field, and DIII football teams. He later completed an internship at the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, FL. After earning his Master of Science in Sports Medicine from the University of Pittsburgh in 2018, Dan went on to complete a one-year Residency program at Syracuse University, where he worked with both the football and men’s lacrosse teams. He continued to expand his experience at Georgetown University, where he served as an Assistant Athletic Trainer, overseeing athletic programs for football, men’s basketball, and women’s lacrosse.

In 2022, Dan transitioned to a leadership role at DC International Public Charter School, where he served as the Sports Medicine and Performance Coordinator. During his time there, he developed and expanded the school’s sports medicine and performance programs and secured a new contract with Children’s National Hospital to provide team physician and athletic training services. Dan was also instrumental in the school’s crisis response planning and training. Dan graduated from Cedarville University and the University of Pittsburgh, and in his personal time, he enjoys baseball, reading, hiking, playing games with friends, eating sushi and various soups, and traveling with his wife.

ON-SITE HUMAN PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST

Stephanie Lewis

Stephanie Lewis is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in Injury Prevention as a Certified Athletic Trainer with the U.S. Secret Service. With over 20 years of experience in the field, she brings a wealth of knowledge to optimizing the performance and well-being of tactical athletes. A BOC Certified Athletic Trainer since 2005, Stephanie also holds certifications as an ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist, NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and Certified Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator. Her role draws on a diverse background in athletic training and exercise physiology, with experience spanning youth camps, collegiate athletics, and professional sports.

Before joining O2X, Stephanie gained extensive experience across a variety of settings, including physical therapy clinics, orthopedic surgeries, and military health services. She has supported athletes at all levels, from high school to the Olympics, and provided critical care during unique challenges like the COVID-19 lockdown. Her career also includes work with law enforcement health services and the military, reflecting her dedication to enhancing human performance in both traditional and tactical environments.

Stephanie’s passion for education is evident in her 12 years as a college instructor and associate professor, as well as her current role as a Certified Emergency Medical Response Instructor for the American Red Cross. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Medicine/Athletic Training with a minor in Nutrition and Exercise Science from Central Michigan University and a Master’s Degree in Kinesiology and Rehabilitative Sciences with a focus on Athletic Training from the University of Hawaii. Stephanie’s multifaceted career underscores her commitment to improving human performance and fostering a culture of wellness and excellence.

ON-SITE HUMAN PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST

Jason Polakowski

Jason Polakowski is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in Strength and Conditioning with the Vermont State Police Academy. With 10 years of experience in the field, Jason has worked with a wide variety of populations, helping individuals enhance their physical performance and overall health. Most recently, Jason worked as a Strength and Conditioning Coach with the Army H2F program, where he trained soldiers in a Brigade Support Battalion (BSB). Prior to that, he spent two years with the United States Marine Corps, focusing on the performance aspect of the Boxing team and supporting the II MIG Division’s training efforts.

Before his work in the tactical field, Jason gained experience working with athletes across different levels. He has worked in the private sector and with professional baseball players within the Philadelphia Phillies organization. Jason also spent several years working with Division I collegiate teams at Bryant University, where he honed his coaching skills and contributed to athletes’ development. This extensive background in coaching performance and training provided a foundation for his transition into tactical athlete development.

Jason holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training with a minor in Psychology from Southern Connecticut State University. He has also completed graduate coursework through Springfield College’s Strength and Conditioning program, where he served as the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Women’s Basketball team for a year. During his collegiate years, Jason competed on the SCSU track and field team, where he was a two-time All-New England decathlete. He still occasionally competes in Weightlifting competitions. Outside of coaching and training, Jason enjoys exploring the outdoors and engaging with music, whether through listening or playing.

ON-SITE HUMAN PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST

Brendan Hanley

Brendan Hanley is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist and Program Manager specializing in Mental Performance with the U.S. Secret Service. Brendan applies his expertise to help individuals develop and refine the mental skills essential for peak performance in high-stakes environments. He equips tactical professionals with tools to enhance focus, resilience, and decision-making, empowering them to push beyond their physical capabilities and achieve their mission objectives.

Brendan’s career includes extensive experience working with athletes of all levels, from beginners to professionals, across diverse sports. For nearly a decade, he has collaborated with the United States Army, applying sport and performance psychology principles to enhance operational readiness. Most recently, Brendan was embedded with a special operations unit, where he worked closely with high-level leaders and aviators to optimize cognitive performance and elevate leadership capacity. His philosophy emphasizes that with the right mindset and guidance, growth and learning are within reach for everyone.

Brendan holds a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science, a master’s in Sport and Performance Psychology, and a doctorate in Education and Leadership. This robust educational background enables him to effectively educate others on mental performance skills while also applying these principles to leadership and executive development. Outside of work, Brendan is passionate about empowering individuals to achieve their full potential, both mentally and physically.

On-site Human Performance Specialist

Luke Pitts

Luke Pitts is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist certified in Strength and Conditioning. A Performance Scientist and Strength & Conditioning Coach with over a decade of experience supporting elite warfighters, MiLB, world champion Powerlifters, Law Enforcement, Division 1 Athletics, and high school athletes in health and human performance, process optimization, and human factor analytics.

Pitts’ career began in 2013 when he was brought on board as a human performance coach at The HomeRun Club, a sports performance facility in Stuarts Draft, Virginia. Pitts worked daily with Minor League baseball players, college baseball, softball, volleyball athletes, and youth athletes of varying sports. He was responsible for all elements of the weight room, speed, and bioenergetic development for the facility athletes. He also conducted biomechanical analysis for hitting and pitching to optimize player health and performance.

Pitts’ next coaching stop was at Liberty University as an Athletic Performance Volunteer Coach, where he was responsible for the physical development of men’s and women’s cheerleading, and assisted with all other Olympic Sports at the university. 

Pitts then diversified his experience at the University of Lynchburg, where he assisted in the performance enhancement of all the athletics department teams as a strength and conditioning coach. He also delivered nutrition education to the Hornets student-athletes.

At Mississippi State University, Pitts had a unique, three-pronged position, Pitts had the opportunity to contribute to Hail State Strength in a multitude of ways: as a performance coach, a sport scientist, and a social media manager. Throughout his time with Mississippi State Athletics, he worked daily alongside 8 D1 athletics programs in the weight room, on court & field, and on the road to support their physical and mental readiness. Pitts also had the opportunity to develop a myriad of human performance monitoring dashboards to optimize the training interventions utilized. Pitts managed the Hail State Strength social media account, enabling the program to attract and recruit the best staff and keep student-athletes engaged in the training process.

Pitts was the very first strength and conditioning coordinator for the Mississippi State University Police Department; he oversaw all elements of health, wellness, and performance for the officers and officer recruits for the department; he provided physical fitness and injury prevention programs, delivered nutrition counseling, and led academy preparation. Pitts was also a sworn patrol officer with the department, where he served his community with tact and poise, and gained a greater understanding of the job’s physical demands to better serve his fellow officers.

Pitts returned to Liberty University in another role where he wore multiple hats: As a performance coach, Pitts had direct oversight of 11 D1 athletic programs, leading many in physical preparation during their pursuit of postseason and championship seasons. He also managed several long-term rehabilitations to reduce the return-to-performance timeline and ensure optimal performance upon medical clearance. Pitts played a large role in reigniting the program’s coaching mentorship program, where he recruited, hired, mentored, and oversaw multiple developing coaches. As a sport scientist, Pitts pioneered data analytics collaborations with university IT departments, served as the analytics lead for the performance department, and contributed to several hardware and software solutions to optimize student-athlete health, wellness, and performance.

In his role with 1BCT, 82nd Airborne Division, Pitts provided daily operational support and feedback on all domains of health, wellness, and performance to Battalion sized elements; prepared numerous paratroopers for specialized Army schools and selections; and integrated with Brigade echelons to provide the most far-reaching and long-lasting impact on those within his realm of influence. Pitts also had involvement in several high-visibility projects and initiatives at the Brigade and Division level: he worked alongside BDE physical therapists to systemize the return to duty training pipeline; he led the restructuring of the unit fitness leader course: DevilFit; and was involved in wearable technology integration best practices and data usage techniques.

In his free time, Pitts enjoys hiking, kayaking, and finding great food with his wife and two children. His commitment to continuous improvement and community engagement is evident in both his professional and personal pursuits, making him a valuable asset to the field of human performance.

ON-SITE HUMAN PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST

Mark Christiani

Mark is an On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in Strength and Conditioning at the 81st Readiness Division. Mark is an Army Veteran with over a decade of proven expertise in leadership, resource management, and regulatory compliance. Mark served as the Brigade Lead Strength and Conditioning Coach for GAP Solutions, Inc., where he oversaw the performance metrics and training programs for a brigade of over 3,000 soldiers. His career spans directing diverse teams, balancing multifaceted projects, and prioritizing professional development in dynamic, high-pressure environments. Mark has successfully linked organizational vision to results through strategic empowerment of people, processes, and technology. His comprehensive background includes operations management, executive-level support, project management, and strength and conditioning, complemented by cross-industry experience in sustainable strategies, market analysis, and process improvements.

Mark’s technical skill set encompasses resource management, injury rehabilitation, coaching, data interpretation, and sports science, along with policy implementation and customer service. He holds a Master of Science in Sports Medicine from Georgia Southern University and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). He is also pursuing certification in High-Performance Collaboration: Leadership from Northwestern University. His professional highlights include spearheading operational improvements, conducting innovative research in exercise physiology and biomechanics, and leading large-scale strength and conditioning initiatives for military personnel.

ON-SITE HUMAN PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST

Anthony Blocker

Anthony Blocker is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in Strength and Conditioning with DCFEMS. With a focus on enhancing the physical readiness and performance of first responders, he employs evidence-based training methods tailored to the unique demands of the fire and emergency services. His role includes conducting assessments, designing individualized training programs, and providing ongoing support to ensure optimal performance and injury prevention.

Prior to joining O2X, Anthony served with the US Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) Program as part of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Liberty, NC. In this capacity, he played a vital role in developing and implementing the Unit Fitness Leader course and the Pregnancy and Postpartum training program. Additionally, Anthony collaborated with the US Army Parachute Team, where he successfully designed and executed their inaugural strength and conditioning program, further enhancing the team’s operational readiness. Before his tenure with the H2F Program, he worked at a private strength and conditioning facility in Richmond, VA, where he trained Chesterfield County Fire and Rescue personnel and athletes of various ages and skill levels.

Anthony holds a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master of Science in Exercise Science with a focus on Human Performance from Liberty University. With years of experience in the field of strength and conditioning, he is dedicated to continuous professional development and applying the latest research to his training practices. Outside of his professional commitments, Anthony enjoys staying active and exploring outdoor activities.

ON-SITE HUMAN PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST

Tommy LaBriola

Tommy LaBriola is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in Strength and Conditioning. He brings a passion for coaching and athlete development to his role, focusing on optimizing performance and resilience through tailored strength and conditioning practices.

Before joining O2X, Tommy spent five years as a Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coach with the Toronto Blue Jays. Most recently, he served as the Head AAA Strength Coach and previously worked with the High-A team in Vancouver, British Columbia. Prior to his time in professional baseball, Tommy completed a graduate assistantship at Salisbury University and held internships at Georgetown University, the University of Pittsburgh, Salisbury University, and the Parisi Speed School, gaining experience across various sports and levels. His expertise has been featured on platforms such as the Professional Baseball Strength and Conditioning Coaches Society podcast and the Just Rippin’ baseball performance podcast.

Tommy holds a Master of Science degree in Applied Health Physiology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science, both from Salisbury University, where he also played collegiate baseball for four years. Growing up immersed in the sport, Tommy developed a lifelong connection to baseball and athletic performance. In his free time, he enjoys spending time outdoors, listening to music, and playing the drums.

ON-SITE HUMAN PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST

Rudy Aguilar

Rudy Aguilar is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in Injury Prevention as a Certified Athletic Trainer with the City of El Monte Police Department. In this role, Rudy applies his extensive expertise in athletic training and injury prevention to support the health and performance of law enforcement officers, ensuring they are physically prepared to meet the demands of their roles.

Before joining O2X, Rudy built a distinguished career in athletic training, most notably serving as the Head Athletic Trainer for Pasadena City College from 1997 to 2024. During this time, he coordinated sports medicine services for 16 intercollegiate sports, playing a critical role in athlete health and performance. Rudy also served as the Head Athletic Trainer for La Cañada High School and South Pasadena High School, further solidifying his reputation as a leader in sports medicine. Beyond traditional athletics, Rudy worked with MMA fighters, including those competing in the UFC and local organizations, leveraging his expertise to enhance their performance and recovery.

Rudy earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Athletic Training from California State University of Long Beach and a Master of Education from Azusa Pacific University. He is certified by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and the National Strength and Conditioning Association. A dedicated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, Rudy enjoys staying active and continually expanding his skills both professionally and personally.

ON-SITE HUMAN PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST

Nina Hsieh

Nina Hsieh is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in Injury Prevention as a Certified Athletic Trainer with the City of Huntington Beach Police Department. In this role, she focuses on injury prevention, management, and recovery to help tactical professionals maintain peak performance and reduce injury risks. Her expertise ensures that officers remain in optimal physical condition while supporting their recovery strategies to maintain operational readiness.

With over two decades of athletic training experience, Nina has had a distinguished career in professional basketball. She spent three seasons as a Senior Athletic Trainer with the Charlotte Hornets and two seasons as the Head Athletic Trainer for the Los Angeles Lakers, following three seasons as the Assistant Athletic Trainer. Prior to her time in the NBA, Nina served as the Head Athletic Trainer for the Lakers’ minor league franchise for seven seasons, where she managed injury care, strength and conditioning programs, and team operations. She also gained valuable experience at the University of California, Santa Barbara, supporting the women’s basketball, men’s soccer, and baseball teams.

Nina holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from California State University, Fullerton, and a Master of Science in Sports Health Care from A.T. Still University in Arizona. She is a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC), Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), and Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES). Nina’s combination of education and hands-on experience makes her a vital resource in injury prevention and performance optimization within both tactical and athletic settings.

ON-SITE HUMAN PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST

Rachel Snyder

Rachel Snyder is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist, specializing in Strength and Conditioning with the DEA. She focuses on optimizing physical performance, injury prevention, and recovery for tactical professionals. Leveraging her extensive expertise, Rachel designs and delivers comprehensive training programs tailored to meet the unique demands of her clients.

Before joining O2X, Rachel served as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at D1 Training. She also contributed to the Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) Program at Fort Jackson, where she developed and implemented physical training programs for the 193rd Infantry Brigade. Additionally, Rachel worked as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at the University of South Carolina, focusing on Women’s Tennis and Pole Vaulting.

Rachel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from UNC-Charlotte and a Master’s degree in Exercise Science from the University of South Carolina. A former Division I women’s soccer player at UNC-Asheville and a 4A All-State athlete from Raleigh, NC, her athletic background fuels her passion for health, fitness, and sports. Rachel is certified as a CSCS and USAW coach and enjoys adventuring with her dog, Moose, and cheering on the South Carolina Gamecocks in her free time

ON-SITE HUMAN PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST

Kelly Wilson

Kelly Wilson is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in Injury Prevention as a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). She is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy (SCS), using her expertise to help tactical professionals and athletes recover from injuries while optimizing their performance. Kelly’s role involves providing education and hands-on support to enhance physical performance and resilience, ensuring individuals return to peak performance levels safely and effectively.

Prior to joining O2X, Kelly built an extensive career in both clinical and athletic settings. She began working with the Virginia Tech Hokies, treating athletes recovering from sports-related injuries and serving as a clinic director until 2017. After relocating to northern Virginia, she provided rehabilitation services to a diverse range of clients, including politicians, service members, and professional athletes from the Washington Commanders, Washington Nationals, DC United, Washington Spirit, Loudoun United Football Club, and DC Breeze Ultimate Frisbee. Additionally, Kelly worked at the Inova Concussion Clinic, specializing in Vestibular Rehabilitation and leading the Return to Performance Quality Improvement Project, which focused on improving the consistency and accuracy of testing across physical therapy clinics.

Kelly earned her Bachelor of Science with an Honors Baccalaureate Degree in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise from Virginia Tech in 2009, where she also minored in Psychology and Chemistry. She then earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Shenandoah University in 2012. As a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy (SCS), Kelly continues to be at the forefront of her field, focusing on rehabilitation and performance enhancement to support athletes and tactical professionals in achieving their peak potential.

ON-SITE HUMAN PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST

David Ayscue

David Ayscue is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist who specializes in Strength and Conditioning. He has trained collegiate and professional athletes, as well as tactical professionals, including serving as a strength and conditioning coach for the 1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade (1AD CAB) at Fort Bliss and the Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) Program for the U.S. Air Force. David specializes in designing and implementing performance enhancement programs tailored to the unique demands of tactical and athletic populations.

David’s career highlights include leading physical and educational sessions to optimize pilot performance at UPT and working with the 1AD CAB to create training programs for soldiers and leaders. He has also worked extensively with collegiate athletes, guiding the physical development of teams across multiple sports, including football, soccer, swim & dive, and tennis at the University of Richmond and Miami University. In addition to his work in collegiate and tactical settings, David has trained professional baseball athletes in the private sector. Across all his roles, he has been committed to helping individuals reach their peak physical potential by adapting to diverse needs and fostering environments for growth.

David holds a B.S. in Kinesiology from Miami University and an M.Ed. in Organizational Leadership and Adult Learning from Park University. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified (SCCC), and a USA Weightlifting Level 1 (USAW-1) coach. Outside of his professional life, David enjoys camping, hiking, and exploring the outdoors with his family. He also takes on new cooking challenges and is on a quest to brew the perfect cup of coffee

ON-SITE HUMAN PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST

Casey Carlgren

Casey Carlgren is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in Nutrition for the City of Berkeley Public Safety. As a Registered Dietitian, he leverages his expertise to help tactical professionals optimize their health and performance through tailored nutrition strategies. Casey is passionate about empowering individuals to achieve their goals by integrating evidence-based nutritional guidance with a practical, sustainable approach.

Before joining O2X, Casey built a diverse foundation of experience in both clinical and sports nutrition. He worked at EXOS in Frisco, TX, where he supported collegiate football athletes preparing for the NFL combine, as well as professional NFL players. Following this, Casey served as a consultant dietitian with Nutritious Lifestyles, providing clinical services and quality assurance audits for long-term care and skilled nursing facilities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. His journey in nutrition began after serving in the Marine Corps, where he provided security at Camp David and the U.S. embassy in Yemen.

Casey holds a Bachelor’s degree in Dietetics from Iowa State University, a Master’s in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Kansas Medical Center, and advanced graduate training in sports nutrition from Florida State University, where he also completed his dietetic internship. A lifelong athlete with experience in track and field, wrestling, CrossFit, powerlifting, and ultra-endurance racing, Casey combines his personal passion for fitness with his professional expertise. In his free time, he enjoys gardening, blending his love for food, nutrition, and health into a fulfilling lifestyle.

ON - SITE HUMAN PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST

Isela Sanchez

Isela Sanchez is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in Injury Prevention as a Certified Athletic Trainer with the City of San Francisco Police Department. In her role, she focuses on prioritizing and addressing officers’ physical, mental, and emotional health needs, ensuring they remain fit, focused, and resilient while serving their community. Through tailored injury prevention strategies and holistic care, Isela plays a key role in optimizing the performance and well-being of tactical athletes.

Before joining O2X, Isela spent five years with the Los Angeles Lakers organization. She contributed three seasons as part of the Lakers’ developmental team before advancing to an assistant athletic trainer role with the Lakers for two seasons, including the 2020 championship season. Prior to her NBA tenure, Isela worked with men’s and women’s basketball at the University of Texas, El Paso (UTEP), and began her athletic training career supporting men’s volleyball and cheer at the University of California, Irvine.

Isela holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Texas, El Paso, and a Master of Science in Athletic Training from California Baptist University in Riverside, California. She is a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC), Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES), and Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES). With a passion for helping others and extensive hands-on experience, Isela is a vital resource in enhancing the health and performance of tactical athletes.

ON-SITE HUMAN PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST

Gabriel Sanchez

Gabriel Sanchez is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in Strength and Conditioning at the San Francisco Police Department. In this role, he supports tactical athletes by designing and implementing human performance programs and resources tailored to enhance physical readiness for mission-critical work.

Before joining O2X, Gabriel served as a Strength and Conditioning Coach for the U.S. ArmyHolistic Health and Fitness (H2F) Program with 62nd Medical Brigade. Gabriel also specialized in returning post-surgery soldiers back to duty. Earlier in his career, he worked with collegiate and high school athletes. He also served as an infantryman for the 25th Infantry Division with 1-21 Infantry Battalion.

Gabriel earned his Master’s in Exercise Science from University of Texas at Arlington and a Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science at Texas State University. His personal experience continues to excel his work through connecting and helping tactical athletes.

ON-SITE HUMAN PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST

Grace Monroe

Grace Monroe, MS, RD, is an O2X On-Site Specialist with a focus on Nutrition and Strength and Conditioning. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Central Washington University and her master’s degree in Dietetics from Eastern Michigan University. For over a decade, Grace has owned a personal training studio in Tacoma, Washington, where she assists recreational, tactical, and everyday athletes in achieving balance through exercise and nutrition.

Dedicated to lifelong learning, Grace is committed to expanding her knowledge base. She is a certified Level 1 YogaFit instructor and a Level 1 Running Coach through the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA). Additionally, she actively contributes to the Research and Education Committee and is a member of the Tactical Special Interest Group for the American Sports and Performance Dietitian Association, as well as the Sports and Human Performance Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

In her personal time, Grace is an outdoor enthusiast, particularly passionate about trail running. She has completed multiple runs around the base of Mt. St. Helens and participated in several ultra-endurance events. Grace also enjoys following the NFL as a lifelong Seahawks fan, spending time with her dogs, reading, and cherishing moments with her four nieces.

ON- SITE HUMAN PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST

Cody Davis

Cody Davis is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in Injury Prevention as a Certified Athletic Trainer with DC Fire and EMS. In this role, he focuses on optimizing human performance and reducing the risk of injury by integrating functional movement patterns with strength and conditioning principles. Cody is passionate about making a real and lasting impact on the lives of first responders and their families, ensuring they can perform at their best while staying healthy and resilient.

Before joining O2X, Cody spent two years working with Towson University’s football program as an athletic trainer, honing his expertise in supporting high-performing athletes. His professional experience spans Division I and Division III athletics, where he gained valuable insights into injury prevention, performance optimization, and rehabilitation strategies tailored to diverse athletic populations.

Cody earned a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Towson University and went on to complete a Master’s Degree in Higher Education Leadership at Salisbury University. With a commitment to professional excellence and a strong educational foundation, Cody brings a wealth of knowledge and practical experience to his role. Outside of work, he is dedicated to helping others achieve their physical goals and enhancing overall quality of life.

On-Site Human Performance Specialist

Jeffrey Appel

Jeff Appel is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist and Program Manager specializing in Strength and Conditioning for the FBI. In this role, he supports tactical athletes by designing and implementing comprehensive training programs and resources tailored to the physical and mental demands of their mission-critical work. Jeff and the O2X team prepare FBI personnel to meet the challenges of their dynamic and high-stakes responsibilities, emphasizing readiness and resilience.

Before joining O2X, Jeff served as the Strength and Conditioning Specialist for fighter pilots with the 1st Ops Group at Langley Air Force Base. At Langley, Jeff developed a periodized training program based around the hectic schedule of fighter pilots while also introducing an individualized approach to training the neck. Before his stint at Langley, Jeff spent four years as the Director of Sports Performance at Fork Union Military Academy. Prior to Fork Union, Jeff worked for six universities during an 11-year span in the collegiate setting, including the University of Richmond, University of Idaho and Davidson College.

Originally from Colorado, Jeff earned his Master’s in Exercise and Sports Science from the University of Western States and his Bachelor’s in Exercise Science from Colorado State University – Pueblo. Jeff now resides in Virginia with his wife and two kids.

ON-SITE HUMAN PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST

Sean Conway

Sean Conway is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist in Strength and Conditioning with Baltimore County Fire Department. In this role, Sean supports the dedicated rescue personnel through the design and implementation of safe, efficient and effective strength and conditioning programs. The primary outcome of his work is to ensure these dedicated individuals can repeatedly perform in their demanding roles and in their personal lives.

Prior to joining O2X, Sean has been enhancing human performance since 2009. Most recently, Sean was the Wellness Director at a family owned health club in Maryland for 4 years. Prior to that, he worked as a military contractor directly supporting the 57th Rescue Squadron as the On-Site Strength and Conditioning Coach at RAF Lakenheath, UK, Additionally, during this 5 year period he supported various other Air National Guard units including the 106th RQS, 125th STS, 306th RQS, and 134th Fighter Squadron among others. In advance of these opportunities, Sean supported professional and DI athletes as a graduate assistant at Rutgers University, private performance training and training special medical populations. Sean received a Master’s Degree in Kinesiology and Applied Physiology and Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science from Rutgers University in New Jersey.

In his free time, Sean enjoys exploring the outdoors with his wife, kids and dog, training and home renovations.

On-Site Human Performance Specialist

Raven Gerald

Raven Gerald is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in Mental Performance, where she works with athletes and professionals to enhance their mental skills and overall performance. With extensive experience in coaching and leadership, she provides both 1:1 and team interventions, helping individuals build resilience, focus, confidence, communication skills, and motivation. Raven also supports those recovering from injury and managing performance anxiety, equipping them with tools to optimize their mental approach to training and competition.

Before transitioning to mental performance coaching, Raven served as the Assistant Athletic Director at Trinity Washington University. Prior to that role, she spent eight years coaching at the NCAA Division I, II, and III levels, working closely with collegiate athletes to develop both their physical and mental game. Her coaching background has given her valuable insight into the demands of high-level competition and the strategies needed to help athletes unlock their full potential.

Raven earned her Master’s degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology from Seton Hall University and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Sport and Performance Psychology at the University of Western States. Her dedication to continuous learning and professional development allows her to bring cutting-edge mental performance strategies to those she works with.

On-Site Human Performance Specialist

Pam Staso

Pam is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in injury prevention as an athletic trainer. With a focus on human health, wellness, and performance, she evaluates the entire patient to address injury causation, prevention, and optimization. By developing comprehensive treatment plans, she promotes long-term improvement and peak performance for those she works with.

With over 15 years of experience in the field, Pam has worked with elite Division I, II, and III collegiate athletes, as well as Naval Academy midshipmen. One of her most fulfilling roles was serving the U.S. Army’s 14th Military Police Brigade at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where she integrated musculoskeletal injury prevention, evaluation, and treatment protocols for Basic Trainees. During this time, she collaborated with military and healthcare professionals to implement elements of the TOMS and H2F programs, benefiting both trainees and unit leadership. Most recently, she worked in an orthopedic clinical setting, assisting physicians and physician assistants in treating musculoskeletal injuries.

Outside of work, Pam enjoys staying active in the gym and outdoors, reading, watching movies, and getting a solid calf workout at concerts. She also takes her competitive spirit to the racquetball and pickleball courts—often at her own expense—where she looks forward to seeing the Baltimore County Fire Department staff claim victory as the first O2X Pickleball Championship Regional Champions.

On-Site Human Performance Specialist

Kendall Stull

Kendall Stull is an O2x On-Site Human Performance Specialist who specialize in injury prevention as a Certified Athletic Trainer with the Baltimore County Fire Department. In this role she dedicates her knowledge of injury prevention, evaluation, recognition, treatment, and rehabilitation to support the first responders of the Baltimore region. Kendall is dedicated to optimizing the health and wellness of the men and women who serve this community. Kendall has a diverse experience prior to coming to O2X.

After graduating from her Masters in Athletic Training program from Towson University, Kendall served one year as a fully licensed Athletic Trainer, Fellow at the United States Naval Academy. There she acted as the primary athletic trainer covering Women’s Rugby and Co-ed. Rifle. This experience allowed Kendall to see a wide variety of acute injuries from contact and collision sports, as well as chronic conditions from the heavy demands midshipmen combat while serving on the Yard. Having to learn the demands of two unique sports, while also navigating the demands of a military athlete, posed a healthy challenge and strengthened Kendall into a strong clinician. After completing her fellowship, Kendall decided to diversify her experiences in a new setting; an industrial role with the company ATS, caring for the industrial athlete on construction sites. This role challenged Kendall to learn the nuances of a unique setting, atypical to the common athletic trainer. Kendall learned to work with a diverse population of unique backgrounds and health history. Kendall honed her communication and education skills, history notation, chronic injury awareness, and general medical evaluation to meet the demands of this new population.

Seeking further challenge, Kendall has joined O2X to care for the tactical athlete. Her time at the United States Naval Academy nurtured her interest in the tactical setting. Kendall is excited to bring her goals full circle and provide expert level care to the men and women serving at the Baltimore County Fire Department. Kendall plans to hit the ground running, and become an asset to the O2X team.

On-Site Human Performance Specialist

Anne Hruskoci

Anne Hruskoci is an Assistant Instructor and O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist as an Injury Prevention Specialist. While studying at the New England Conservatory of Music to become an opera singer, she found her passion in health and human performance after achieving an 80 pound weight loss. 

While in her undergraduate degree studying opera singing performance, Anne went through an 80 pound weight loss that was fueled by 1% changes over time. The result was decreased pain caused by the foot and ankle deformity she was born with and improved mobility.

After music school, she dove into the fitness industry, and got inspired by her adaptive athlete clients to pursue her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and PT license. Her passion for Human Performance comes from a love for how evidence based practice helped her optimize and adapt her own performance despite physical limitation, as well as love for serving those who serve others. Anne loves blending her neurological rehab and orthopedic PT experience, alongside her strength training and nutrition coaching background. Her physical therapy hero is her mom, Irene.

Data Analyst

Dave Sherman

David Sherman is a data analyst at O2X. As a licensed physical therapist and certified athletic trainer, Dave offers experience with tactical and occupational athletes such as Fort Worth Police and Fire, as well as, professional and collegiate athletics. He received a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training (2012) and Doctorate in Physical Therapy (2014) from Boston University. Dave is currently a PhD student at the University of Toledo where he studies applied neuroscience in sports and exercise. His research focuses on the maladaptive brain changes that occur after musculoskeletal injury and the development of rehabilitative treatments that can target those changes.

Dave has volunteered as a member of the Boston Marathon Medical Team since 2012. His passion for tactical athlete readiness was inspired by the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, when the readiness and collaborative actions of Boston Police, Fire, and EMS members on Boylston Street meant the survival of 278 injured civilians. Dave believes wellness is unique to each individual athlete, with success rooted in balanced nutrition, sleep, mental health, and physical activity.

O2X CAPCE Medical Director

Brent Levy

Dr. Brent Levy is and O2X Medical Advisor serving as the Physician Medical Director for CAPCE Programming. He currently serves as the Assistant Medical Director for Emergency Medicine and the Vice Chair of Emergency Medicine at Rose Medical Center. In this role, he is integrally involved in all practice management decisions as well as curating physician scheduling. Brent serves on the hospital’s Medical Executive Committee and was involved in disaster management planning surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Brent is also currently the Trauma Medical Director at Rose Medical Center, a Level IV Trauma Center. Brent is Board Certified in Emergency Medicine, Advanced Wilderness Life Support, and Advanced Trauma Life Support.

Throughout his career, Brent has conducted research and developed tools to support rural trauma care, wilderness medicine courses, and curriculum design focused on injury prevention through helmet use in outdoor recreational activities. Prior to his medical career, Brent worked as a resort planner and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technician contributing the design of renowned resorts around the world. He is an avid outdoorsman, accomplished endurance athlete, and spends his free time biking, running, paddling, and skiing in the mountains of Colorado with his wife, daughter, and black lab.

Medical Professional

Michael Hamrock

Dr. Michael Hamrock is an O2X Medical Professional, former firefighter, and department physician for the Boston Fire Department. He now also provides primary care to many Massachusetts firefighters at Steward St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Boston, MA.

Dr. Hamrock attended University of Massachusetts Medical School. He has over 23 years of experience and specializes in internal medicine.

Lead Instructor

Greg Kelly

Greg has been a proponent for O2X from the very beginning having helped organize and attend
the inaugural human performance workshop in 2015 and has been an advocate ever since. Greg
brings a diverse background to our team to include service in Army Special Forces, U.S. Marines
and the Boston Fire Department. He also has a background in cyber security and veteran
advocacy. As a Marine he served in peace keeping and security operations. As a Green Beret he
led combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. As a firefighter he has led fire suppression,
technical rescue, and emergency medical operations. He also served at “ground zero” in New
York City in 2001.

Greg is a co-founder of Massachusetts Fallen Heroes, a highly impactful non-profit organization
that honors fallen service members, supports Gold Star families and empowers veterans. Greg is
also a co-founder of the InnoVets program, which seeks to bring veterans into the cyber security
profession. Greg works with the executive team at Blue Mantis modernizing and hardening
private sector companies in the cyber threat environment. Having experienced extensive traumatic stress Greg became interested in personal resilience. He has trained and served as an Army Master Resilience Trainer (MRT), Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Trainer (ASIST), Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) response team member, and peer-support councilor. During his service to our country, his community and his teammates, Greg has gained extensive leadership experience under the most extreme of circumstances. He knows firsthand of the stressors that challenging careers have on individuals and families, and of the necessity of a comprehensive human performance program. Greg once noted that the motto of Army Special Operations Command was fitting when describing the O2X approach, “Sine Pari”, without equal. Armed with faith, discipline and an indomitable warrior spirit Greg continues to mentor soldiers, serve his community, and make a positive impact on individuals, teams, and organizations. Greg lives in Boston with his wife and three children.

Lead Instructor

Rob Lara

Robert Lara is an O2X Lead Instructor. Rob is from Colorado and enlisted in the Army in 1998. He was assigned to the 82nd and then was a Scout Sniper in the 121st Infantry located in Hawaii.  In 2019, Rob retired from the Army and has served in Special Operations since 2003. During this time he had the privilege of serving in 3rd and 10th Special Forces Group as well as 1st SFOD-D during his 21 years. Rob has served in multiple overseas combat theaters and always works to support our great Nation while in and out of the US after retirement. While on active duty, he has competed in CrossFit in the US and abroad as well as owning a gym to assist in training athletes to amplify their physical needs on and off the battlefield. Rob has worked with first responders, civilian athletes and military to educate personnel in physical fitness and injury prevention. He was also afforded the opportunity to work and train with USA Weightlifting Coaches and the Monaco Olympic Weightlifting Team. During his time in the military he has seen his share of injuries with himself and teammates. The physical and mental recovery times can be hard to deal with.

To this day, Rob strives to grow as an athlete and pass along lessons learned from his past to help support those who want to live a well balanced healthy lifestyle. Rob’s balance comes from skiing, off-road driving, hiking, hunting,  fishing, physical fitness and everything between. Nothing is free and only dedication through a healthy education about physical and mental fitness can assist in those modalities for individuals that support the teams they work with.

Lead Instructor

Alex Othmer

Alex Othmer is an O2X Lead Instructor. Alex attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy, earning his Bachelor’s degree in Nautical Science and U.S. Coast Guard Third Mate Unlimited Tonnage License. Upon graduation, Alex commissioned as an Officer in the U.S. Navy where he served as a SEAL Operator. He holds a master’s degree in Psychology with a concentration in Leadership from Penn State University and is the Co-founder and Executive Director of Guardian Revival, a 501(c)(3) Not-for-profit Organization chartered to support first responders and veterans. Alex is also the Co-founder of Ox Box, a healthy snack subscription box company providing individuals, families, and organizations with healthy food options.

Lead Instructor

Ajay James

Ajay James is an O2X Lead Instructor. Ajay James led a multifaceted and successful career as a Special Operator within the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) enterprise for the last 20 years. Within the scope of his experience, he acted as a military advisor for partner nation force engagements, as a lead assaulter on kinetic operations, and as the Combatives Department Head where he taught and oversaw the instruction of armed and unarmed combative skills to thousands of NSW accession candidates.  Ajay also successfully completed his position as a Team Leader of a deployed SEAL platoon, a coveted milestone role in the path of special operations advancement. He recently conducted turned over operations as the Senior Enlisted Advisor of NSW Advanced Training Command, where he, along with a staff of nearly 200, enabled the professional development of the special warfare community by offering 19 high-risk courses of instruction, which produce 3,500 classes a year.  Ajay came to America with his family from Trinidad and Tobago to attend school in New Jersey, before moving to New York. Ajay is a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and has enjoyed many opportunities to work in film and television productions. He also enjoys martial arts, fitness, foreign films and languages, high speed driving, motorcycle racing, paddle boarding, surfing and is a lifelong global traveler. Ajay’s life has been about the adventure of it all, and is excited for the prospects that await him in the future.

Lead Instructor

Stephen Pace

Stephen Pace is an O2X Lead Instructor. Stephen is a former Reconnaissance Marine and Scout Sniper in the United States Marine Corps. During his time in the Marines, Stephen conducted multiple combat deployments to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom where he received numerous military awards for combat action. After completing his service, Stephen transitioned to a job as a Strength and Conditioning Assistant Coach at a Sport Rehabilitation facility training, educating, and rehabbing athletes recovering from sports injuries. During this time, Stephen began to combine his combat fitness with sports training and rehabilitation and continued his passion for health and wellness. From there, Stephen went on to obtain his bachelor’s degree from Texas State University where he majored in International Relations due to his love for travel as well as his desire to return to the government sector later in his professional career. He is currently a protective agent at Gavin de Becker & Associates which is a high-level private security firm where he specializes in executive protection for public figures. Stephen travels a little over 200 days of the year in support of his job all across the globe and loves the profession of safeguarding human life. If he isn’t traveling, you can find him in the gym or on the golf course and yes, even the golf clubs travel with him.

Lead Instructor

Karl Huey

Karl is an O2X Lead Instructor. Karl attended the US Naval Academy, where he played four years of ACHA ice hockey and graduated with a degree in quantitative economics. After, he started his Naval Special Warfare career and graduated with BUD/s class 325. He served on SEAL Team THREE, where he deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. He then moved to Florida to serve at Special Operations Command SOUTH. At SOCSOUTH, he deployed to Haiti in support of USSOUTHCOM Joint Task Force Haiti and served as the advisor for maritime special operations in the Caribbean region.  

Karl is an Emergency Medical Technician and is transitioning out of the military to start his next career firefighting in Northern California. Karl started his athletic career at three-years-old, and to this day is an enthusiastic competitor. He loves all domains of sport and fitness. Karl still enjoys playing hockey and has competed in endurance races, powerlifting, and CrossFit.

Lead Instructor

Josh Hacker

Joshua Hacker is an O2X Lead Instructor. Josh was born in Houston, Texas and raised by hard working parents that instilled strong work ethic and strong character from an early age. He attended Sam Houston State University and 10 days after graduation left for Navy boot camp with his sights set on becoming a SEAL. After a long road that dream was realized through tons of training, focus, and perseverance. As a transitioning Navy SEAL going into Federal Law Enforcement, he is looking to continue his passion for human performance. Josh is always eager to learn and grow in the field of performance, health, and longevity. He receives great satisfaction in getting to work with like minded individuals and help high caliber teams thrive at every level. He enjoys spending his free time with his 2 year old daughter, Adley, woodworking, and loves anything outdoors.

Lead Instructor

Kaci Clark

Major Kasandra A. Clark (Kaci) is from Fayetteville, Georgia. She was a competitive Level 10 Junior Olympic gymnast and track & field state champion throughout highschool. She competed all four years of college as a sprinter, long jump and pole vault specialist. She was Team Captain, Patriot League Indoor Field Athlete of the Year, Patriot League Indoor and Outdoor Pole Vault Champion and competed in the 2011 World Military Games in Brazil. Kaci received a bachelor’s in Psychology from The United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point and was commissioned as an Aviation Officer in 2011.

Following graduation from USMA, she attended Army flight school and learned to fly Blackhawk Helicopters (UH-60 A/L). Kaci’s first assignment was to Fort Campbell, KY where she started coaching and competing in Functional Fitness and CrossFit. In 2014, she deployed to Afghanistan as a flight platoon leader and coached regularly at the FOB CrossFit gym. In 2015, she assessed and was accepted into 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) as one of the first females & first Black female helicopter pilot. She deployed to multiple countries, commanded, and flew over a thousand hours during her time as a Special Operations Helicopter Pilot.

In 2019, Kaci tried out for and was chosen to compete as a member of the Army Warrior Fitness Team. This 12 member team was selected to compete nationally and internationally in Crossfit, Power Lifting and Strongman & help increase awareness, relationships and recruiting with the civilian population. Kaci is a Master Fitness Trainer, U.S.A. Weightlifting, CrossFit Gymnastics, and CrossFit Level 2 certified and has coached at the local CrossFit Gym in every duty station she has lived in. She is currently an Inspector General within the Aviation Reserve Command, lives in Atlanta, GA with her fiancé and will be starting as a First Officer with Frontier Airlines in Spring 2023.

Lead Instructor

Benjamin Toderico

Benjamin Toderico is an O2X Lead Instructor. Benjamin earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise and a Master’s of Science in Muscle Physiology and Biochemistry from Virginia Tech. After graduating, he worked for a busy urban police department for 18 years in various assignments including patrol, street level gun and drug investigations, property crimes, robberies, aggravated assault and sex crimes, crimes against children, Crime Stoppers, and was assigned to the department SWAT Team for over 7 years. Benjamin has been a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the NSCA for over 20 years. He has also held certifications in personal training, kettlebell instruction, natural movement, functional movement screening, and blood flow restriction training.

Benjamin’s career and life path were drastically altered when his wife, Denise, was struck from behind by an SUV while she was running. Once she was discovered in a farmer’s field and EMS was summoned, she was flown by helicopter to the regional trauma hospital. Denise spent the next 40 days in the hospital recovering from several strokes, a severe traumatic brain injury, a severe brachial plexus injury (paralyzing her arm), several broken vertebrae in her neck and back, and other orthopedic injuries and internal traumas.

Benjamin’s unique background enabled him to become the best advocate, coach, trainer, and partner for his wife and their family. With the lessons learned and skills developed, Benjamin changed his career path to be able to help tactical athletes become 1% better through resiliency, strength and condition and mindset.

Lead Instructor

Sean Sexton

Sean Sexton is an O2X Lead Instructor who was born and raised in Willow Grove, PA and enlisted in the Navy in February 1991. He served 20+ years in Naval Special Warfare with several deployments to include Afghanistan and Operation Enduring Freedom. Sean’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal with “V”,  Joint Service Commendation Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, (2) National Defense Service Medals, Joint Service Achievement Medal, (2) Navy Commendation Medals, (5) Navy Achievement Medals, (6) Good Conduct Medals, SEAL Team 8 Sailor of the Quarter.

After retiring in 2011, Sean continued his passion in human performance by earning his Bachelors in Health Science, Purple Belt in Jiu-Jitsu, and working as a Coach and Director Of Operations for CrossFit Stapleton in Denver. Along with various coaching certifications he has continued to serve as a Lead Combat Rifle/Pistol Instructor for The Department of Defense and Police Departments.

As a self-professed “Movement Enthusiast,” he can be found SUP-surfing, hiking, hot yoga, and working out on a daily basis. He currently resides in Virginia Beach and enjoys reading and learning about anything related to diet, exercise, and longevity. “I can relate to physical setbacks and limitations and understand that (after 2 joint replacements and multiple back issues) you figure out what you CAN DO and DO IT – consistently.”

Lead Instructor

Jason Silva

Jason Silva is an O2X Lead Instructor who recently finished a 27 year career in the United States Navy as a Master Chief.  He completed Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training in 1992 and went on to become qualified as a Special Forces medic at Fort Sam Houston, TX and a paramedic in South Central Los Angeles, CA with the Los Angeles Fire Department.  He served on SEAL Team Five, Naval Special Warfare Development Group, and Special Operations Command North.  Throughout his career, Jason has completed 17 combat deployments in support of several operations worldwide, to include Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Jason’s awards and commendations include the Silver Star, three Bronze Stars with Valor, a Purple Heart, and two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, among others.

Jason has a passion for woodworking, having learned from his father who was a Master cabinetmaker, and spends his free time creating pieces of art in his mountain woodshop in Colorado.

Lead Instructor

Justin Herzog

Justin Herzog has been an O2X Lead Instructor since the fall of 2018 and is a full-time firefighter with the San Diego City Fire Department. He has over 18 years of experience in the fire service, is a certified California State Fire Training Instructor, and serves as a member of the Training Cadre for both the SDFD Fire Recruit Academy and SDFD In-Service Training for career members. He runs the PT Program for the Recruit Academy and also serves as a member of the SDFD Peer Support Team.

Originally from the Washington, D.C. area, Justin played multiple sports through high school before joining the fire service after his athletic career ended in college. In 2001, he moved to California, settling at the beach in San Diego. When he’s not riding Engine 12 or Truck 12 in Southeast San Diego, you can find him working at the fire academy, hanging at the beach with his wife, or hiking and snowboarding in the mountains of the West.

Lead Instructor

Michael Fox

Michael Fox is an O2X Lead Instructor. Michael was born in Philadelphia, PA and raised in a Fire Fighting household which instilled a Spartan work ethic and emphasized the value of teamwork and service to others. He comes to O2X after a 24 year career in the Naval Special Operations community as a Master Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician.

Over his extensive career he has ascended through the enlisted ranks and honorably retired from Naval Service as the last Commissioned EOD Warrant Officer. From “Med cruises” to multiple combat deployments in support of OIF/OEF and other contingency operations, he honed his skills in the severest of schools.  He finds deep satisfaction in working with like-minded individuals in pursuit of common goals and rising to the challenge of 1% a day. His ability to connect with people and relate stories’ relevance makes him a valued asset as a Lead Instructor.

He spends his free time playing with life sized Hot Wheels, enjoying the outdoors, and RVing with his family.

Lead Instructor

Jim Foreman

Jim Foreman is an O2X Lead Instructor. Jim is a retired Command Master Chief who served 27 years in the Navy SEALs. Currently he is the Lead Sales for MATBOCK, an innovative company that creates lightweight and durable medical/operational equipment for the military and first responders.

Lead Instructor

Gary Alexander

Gary Alexander is an O2X Lead Instructor. He served 22 years as a Special Tactics Officer in the U.S. Air Force and retired as a Colonel in December 2020.  While in the Air Force, his career included assignments as a Special Tactics Squadron Commander, ST Director of Operations, and ST Flight Commander. 

Gary served as the Operations Officer for the 2019 Department of Defense Warrior Games, which executed 29 Olympic-style sporting competition events over the course of 10 days supporting 300 wounded, ill, and injured warriors. He was the Commander for the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Detachment at North Carolina A&T State University.  

Gary deployed to Afghanistan on six separate occasions. While conducting combat operations in 2008, he sustained injuries and received the Bronze Star Medal with Valor and the Purple Heart Medal. Gary returned to optimal performance through intentional physical, mental, and social conditioning.

Incorporating tactical athlete training sessions as part of his lifestyle, he understands that long-term development occurs as a result of small daily adjustments. Gary appreciates through his own personal experience, the benefits a comprehensive human performance program can have on both the individual and organizations.

Lead Instructor

Robert Wantowski

Robert Wantowski is an O2X Lead Instructor. Prior to O2X, Rob completed a 30-year career in the United State Navy as a Diving Chief Warrant Officer Five. Robert served most of his career within Naval Special Warfare at SEAL Team FOUR, SEAL Vehicle Delivery Team ONE and Naval Special Warfare Development Group. He completed eight combat deployments along numerous sensitive activity deployments. Robert’s awards include the Bronze Star, three Defense Meritorious Service Medals, three Joint Service Commendation Medals, three Navy Commendation Medals along with numerous unit and campaign awards.

Robert holds a Bachelor of Science in Strategic Studies and Defense Analysis from Norwich University, graduating Summa Cum Laude. He is relentlessly positive, passionate and an enthusiastic leader that thrives in dynamic and challenging environments with diverse groups. These qualities allow Ski to represent O2X at the highest level.

Robert has a deep passion for being physically active and maintaining his body, mind, and spirit in the best condition possible. He enjoys surfing, snow skiing, swimming, Golf, and any other physical activity. When Ski isn’t working or working out, he enjoys hanging out at the beach playing corn-hole with his wife and friends. Robert and his Wife live in Englewood, Florida. They have two sons and three grandchildren.

Lead Instructor

Mike Murray

Mike Murray is an O2X Lead Instructor. Mike served for over 26 years in the United States Army to include the 75th Ranger Regiment and Tier 1 Special Mission Unit (SMU).  During Mike’s 15 years in the SMU Community, he served in multiple leadership roles with numerous deployments in support of national defense objectives.  Before Mike retired in 2018 as a Sergeant Major, he held positions as a SMU Assaulter, SMU Sniper, SMU Team Leader, SMU Section Sergeant Major, and SMU Troop Sergeant Major.    

Post military service, Mike has served as Managing Director of a Cyber Security firm, Program Manager of numerous Special Activities training programs, and Director of Business Development for a successful government contracting company.  Mike is a 100% service-disabled veteran with over 48 months of deployed time in combat zones around the world.  

Lead Instructor

Adam Mackie

Adam Mackie is an O2X Lead Instructor that recently retired from the Navy in 2019.  Adam originally hails from Northeastern Minnesota.  He received a commission from the US Naval Academy in 1997 and then graduated from Basic Underwater Demolition / SEAL Training shortly thereafter.  He served as an officer in the SEAL Teams for 22 years at SEAL Team FIVE, SEAL Team TEN, SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team TWO, and other Joint Commands.  He served in Iraq and Afghanistan multiple times and deployed to many other countries for various operations.  These days he owns a small real estate development and investment company.  He enjoys spending time with his wife and three daughters in their cabin in Northern Minnesota swimming, taking saunas, hunting, and fishing.

Lead Instructor

Aaron Santana

Aaron Santana is an O2X Lead Instructor who served 10 years in the Ranger Regiment and as the Sergeant Major for the Technical Surveillance Troop and Technical Senior Enlisted Advisor to the forward command at United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) Applied Technologies Directorate. Aaron served as an infantryman in the Rangers before moving on to a Special Mission Unit and managed a diverse portfolio and oversaw the operational integration of technical surveillance, unmanned systems, and information warfare to include cyber, electronic warfare, and information operations. Aaron also directed a Research and Engineering team responsible for the rapid development and integration of technical solutions to support warfighters overseas and led a Technical Program Team focused on long-term Research Development Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) efforts supporting elite Special Operations Unit. Aaron has 20 years of Special Operations experience conducting tactical operations, special activities and technical operations across North Africa, Southwest Asia and the Levant. Aaron is a native of Orange, California and is a lifelong martial artist, competition wrestler, coach and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Blackbelt. In his spare time, Aaron coaches wrestling, golfs, rides mountain bikes, plays guitar, practices yoga, and travels.

Lead Instructor

Dave Neely

Dave Neely is an O2X Lead Instructor from Chattanooga, TN. A class of 2003 U.S. Naval Academy graduate, he served 5 years as a Surface Warfare Officer. After the Navy, Dave enlisted in the National Guard and served 4 years in 19th Special Forces Group before transitioning to active duty and was the Distinguished Honor Graduate of his Special Forces Qualification Course class.

Once on active duty, Dave was assigned to 5th Special Forces Group where he was a member of a Military Free-Fall specialty team as well as a Combat Diver/Maritime team. His final assignment before retirement was to the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) in Ft. Bragg, NC. He is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Inherent Resolve, and is the recipient of 2 Bronze Star Medals, the Purple Heart Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, and numerous other personal and unit awards.

Dave is a Crossfit athlete and enjoys long distance running and swimming. He is a PADI Divemaster, a NAUI Master Diver, and formerly held a U.S. Parachuting Association B-license. He is an avid firearms enthusiast and instructor. As a recent military retiree, he enjoys spending his free time with his family as often as possible.

Lead Instructor

PJ Dunegan

Phil Dunegan, also known as PJ, began his journey in human performance as a Division 1 athlete, playing football at Hampton University. After his tenure with the Pirates, he enlisted in the Army and served with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), completing multiple combat deployments and contingency operations worldwide. Notably, Phil served as the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Senior Enlisted Advisor during his final deployment, overseeing the shutdown operations in Afghanistan.

After a decade of service, Phil was medically retired and is now pursuing a degree in Psychology at the University of Maryland Global Campus. Embracing a slower pace, he actively coaches his kids’ sports teams and serves as the offensive coordinator for Mount Vernon High School. Phil is passionate about collaborating with others to help them realize their full potential and contribute positively to his community.

Phil is happily married with three children, two black labs, one cat, and three hermit crabs. In his spare time, he enjoys outdoor activities with his family, including cycling, golf, and pickleball.

Lead Instructor

Steven Thomas

Steve is a O2X Lead Instructor and Green Beret currently finishing up his career at 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, NC. Currently, Steve is the senior engineer on a Military Freefall detachment while he completes his active-duty career. His time in the service has spanned multiple deployments to Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, Haiti, Jordan, and Central Asia. During his Special Forces career, he was an instructor at the Special Forces Senior Leaders Course. Prior to his selection for Special Forces, Steve spent 8 years in the conventional Army. It was during these 8 years that began to mold his passion for human performance and fitness. He adopted these principles into his training to maximize his success during Special Forces Assessment and Selection and subsequently the Qualification Course. In his free time, Steve enjoys shooting 3-gun competitions. He is a USPA Coach and skydiver, CrossFit coach and enthusiast. Steve holds a Bachelor of Science in Strategic Studies and MBA from Norwich University.

Lead Instructor

Jared Cheselske

Jared Cheselske is an O2X Lead Instructor and United States Army Combat Veteran that served in Iraq during Desert Shield / Desert Storm, grew up in San Diego. He has a total of 27 years in the Fire Service, 21 of those years being with the City of San Diego, the last 10 as a captain. Jared is currently assigned to station 21 in Pacific Beach. Jared has spent the majority of his career at double houses where he has specialized in truck company operations. He is also on his Department’s Peer Support Team Helping other Firefighters in times of emotional crisis. Jared has been married for 27 years to his lovely wife and they have 3 beautiful daughters. Jared is an avid surfer, loves playing sports and being outdoors.

Lead Instructor

Kenneth Taylor

Kenny Taylor (Ken or KT) is an O2X Lead and a retired Senior Chief Navy SEAL with numerous operational deployments in SEAL Team 5 and the Naval Special Warfare Development Group. He served as an instructor at the Naval Special Warfare Training Center, where selection, assessment, and training are the focus. Ken found his passion was in human development, helping people maximize their potential to deliver optimal performance.

On the heels of 2 back surgeries and a twenty-year career in the military, he transitioned into the world of human performance. Ken became one of the original TRX Suspension Trainer Master Training Specialists and traveled the globe leading Suspension Training Workshops at US and NATO Military bases around the globe. He later served as the Lead Performance Consultant in support of a research and development project named the Continuum of Leadership Development (CLD) Program back at the Naval Special Warfare Training Center.

Ken’s life in human performance consulting has also included the management and facilitation of team captain and assistant coaches Impact Leadership Workshops to develop leaders of character, competence, and consequence, for various NCAA D1 programs. Subsequently, Ken has mentored and worked with both high performing collegiate and high-school athletes and coaches alike.

Ken lives by the philosophy; Be action-oriented in pursuit of your interests, create new experiences, and embrace a life of learning and development.  Prepare physically, mentally, and emotionally to deliver your best in all endeavors.  He values authenticity, education, compassion, respect, creativity, and humor. He works to develop relationships with honesty, earning the trust of others and communicating with enthusiasm while openly sharing his stories. Ken uses motivation, inspiration, empathy, and accountability to guide performers. When working with people, Ken’s goal is to help them practice self-awareness, mental focus, and resilience for dealing with distractions that can potentially disrupt the physical and mental preparation needed to develop skills when working to achieve personal and professional Lastly, he takes stock of every situation and searches for humor or irony in moments of distress, for he believes laughter is medicine for the soul.

Ken has a BA in Sport Psychology and an MA in Performance Psychology.  Physically, Ken trains strengths/cardio regularly. Hobby-wise he loves golf and snow-skiing, and loves finding new people to share in those activities. He’s also an actor, but that’s a story for another day.

Lead Instructor

Brian Christianson

Brian Christianson is an O2X Lead Instructor and a 16-year Army Veteran. He joined the Army in 1999 as a Combat Engineer where he completed two deployments to Kosovo, one in Iraq, and one in Afghanistan. In 2007, he changed career fields to a Civil Affairs Specialist. After completing the Civil Affairs Qualification Course, he was attached to Joint Special Operations Command working alongside Rangers and SEALs in Afghanistan and later attached to SOCSOUTH where he again was attached to a SEAL Team. His final deployment was in Iraq during the drawdown. Positions he held are as a Team Leader, Squad Leader, Route Clearance NCOIC, Civil Affairs NCO, Team Sergeant, Joint Plans and Operations NCO, and Master Gunner. 

When he stopped deploying around the world, his career shifted to training future warfighters as a hand-to-hand and advanced weapons and tactics instructor. Once he left the military, he saw a need for service members to have better training in their overall health and performance and took steps to insert himself to give service members something that he wished he had earlier in his career. 

He opened a CrossFit gym, CrossFit Hold Strong, in San Antonio, TX. At the same time, he completed my Bachelors in Exercise and Sports Science from Texas State University. He has held numerous jobs in the health and wellness field since taking his uniform off. He has worked in the Nutrition Care Division and as Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) Nutrition Health Educator for 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division in Fort Bliss, TX. 

While at Fort Bliss, he completed his Masters in Exercise Science and Wellness: Fitness and Performance from Liberty University. He continues to work for the Army Wellness Center as Health Educator in Fort Sill, OK. His background is in Human Performance, but has been heavily sided towards nutrition the past 3 years. Most recently, he earned the Tactical Strength and Conditioning – Facilitator (TSAC-F) credential from the NSCA. His hobbies include golf, hunting, sports, and just generally being outdoors with his family.

Lead Instructor

Anna Mansueti

Anna Mansueti is an O2X Instructor. She is from Easton, Maryland, and growing up in a military family, Anna knew she would join the US Navy at a young age. While attending the University of Colorado Boulder and pursuing a degree in studio art, she was inspired to join the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) community. Upon completing her undergraduate program, she served as an EOD officer for ten years. Anna commanded platoons in Southeast Asia and Europe, and led extensive ordnance disposal operations in the South Pacific, destroying tens of thousands of pounds of unexploded ordnance and restoring land and freedom of movement for populations affected by war. These experiences fortified her desire to pursue a design degree and to continue to serve demining communities around the world. She received her Master in Design Studies (MDes) degree from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design (GSD).  Anna lives and works in New York City with her husband Pierce, who is also a US Navy EOD veteran and attending medical school. In her spare time, Anna loves drawing, traveling, and spending time with her family. 

Lead Instructor

Erik Melanson

In addition to being an O2X Lead Instructor, Erik continues to serve on active duty in the United States Marine Corps as an intelligence officer. Erik has spent the majority of his career in the special operations community, deploying in support of combat operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Africa. Erik was a division 1 rugby player for Norwich University, where he also played lacrosse and club hockey. After years of CrossFit, and attaining his CrossFit Level 1 certification, he was introduced to human performance while serving in Marine Special Operations Command. From that point forward, human performance and the role of the tactical athlete have been a staple in Erik’s life.

In August of 2020 after returning from Afghanistan, Erik suffered a traumatic injury that left him paralyzed below the knee in his left leg. Erik’s doctors, surgeons, and rehabilitation team credit Erik’s physical and mental conditioning as the main reason he has been able to remain on active duty, and recover to the level he has from his limb salvage injury. It was during his time at Walter Reed that Erik’s passion for helping fellow injured and wounded individuals rehabilitate their body and mind really took off. Erik is a huge proponent of the mental health aspect of human performance, and looks for every opportunity to break the stigma associated with seeking help for mental health and substance abuse issues.

Erik, his wife Haley, their two sons Callan & Bodie, and their labradors Maverick and Rooster reside in Frederick, Maryland. Erik holds graduate certificates in leadership from Wharton and Harvard Law, a MA in Military Studies from Marine Corps University, and is finishing up his MA in Global Policy from Johns Hopkins University. In addition to his passion of helping others recover physically and mentally, Erik spends the majority of his free time as a youth hockey coach, and he and his family can usually be found in a hockey rink up and down the east coast. Erik also plays hockey for the USA Warriors, a wounded and injured veteran/service member hockey team that plays games against similar teams across the United States.

Lead Instructor

Jimmy Schroeder

Jimmy Schroeder is an O2X Lead Instructor and retired Navy SEAL. He served 20 years on active duty and completed 12 combat deployments. During his 2007 deployment, Jimmy was seriously wounded from a close-range gunshot wound to his lower back which left him paralyzed for many months. Through his faith, family, and support from the SEAL community, Jimmy implemented wellness practices and intense physical therapy, ultimately resulting in adapting permanent physical limitations to achieve “fit for full duty” for 10 more combat deployments. Retiring from Naval Special Warfare Development Group in May of 2022, Jimmy relocated to Colorado Springs, CO to be near his three daughters and enjoy the mountains.   Jimmy has a passion for anything outdoors and helping people. He is pursuing an International Mountain Guide Certification (IFMGA- Rock/Alpine/Ski). He also volunteers with the El Paso County Mountain Rescue squad while working for a nonprofit focusing on helping injured and ill veterans. Jimmy feels it’s his duty to humbly share his recovery experience and bring awareness to the many challenges of mental and physical injuries across all walks of life.

Lead Instructor

Trey Lachicotte

Trey Lachicotte is an O2X Lead Instructor. Trey is also a retired US Army Special Forces Operator (Green Beret) and worked as the Long-Range Surveillance Detachment (LRSD) commander. Prior to entering the Army, Trey attended the University of Tennessee, where he assisted in strength training for the National Championship University of Tennessee Women’s Basketball team. Trey also competed on the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps’ (AROTC) national championship Ranger Challenge team (collegiate level). These experiences translated to successful completion of the US Army’s Ranger and Special Forces Qualification courses and service as a US Army Green Beret. After 21 years of active duty and ten worldwide (four combat) deployments, he recently retired in February 2022. Trey entered the private sector as a Logistics and Risk Management Lead for a major Agricultural company in MN. He also actively involved in the Human Performance industry, as is currently working with multiple special operations non-profits. Trey enjoys just about any outdoor activity and working within a team dynamic. He is a proud father of three school-aged kids, coaches youth lacrosse, coaches youth human performance, holds multiple performance based certifications, and currently resides with his wife, west of the Twin Cities in Minnesota.

Lead Instructor

Chris Combado

Chris Combado is an O2X Lead Instructor and Strength & Conditioning Specialist. He graduated and commissioned from the United States Naval Academy in 2013 with a Bachelor’s in Economics. He served in the Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer for eight years. After his time in the Navy, Chris moved to Colorado Springs to earn his Master’s degree in Applied Physiology. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist from the National Strength and Conditioning Association. While in school, he worked at D1 Training, coaching youth athletes as well as general population. Chris has interned with collegiate athletes from the D-III to D-I level across multiple sports. He has volunteered with Colorado Springs Fire Department helping to execute fire academy workouts. Chris continued his involvement with the tactical population as an intern with 10th SFG(A) at Fort Carson. He was also the head strength and conditioning coach for the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Academy, training recruits across five academies. Chris recently moved back to San Diego to continue his career as a strength and conditioning coach.

Lead Instructor

Jim Grauel

James Grauel is an O2X Lead Instructor. He retired from the Wildwood Fire Department after a 25 year career in his South Jersey hometown. During his career, he rose to the rank of Captain and established the position of Health and Wellness Officer. While in that position, he established annual physical evaluations for firefighters, became an IAFF peer fitness trainer, built the first firehouse gym, and led several wellness initiatives including leading a 9/11 stair climb and the Murph Challenge. The stair climb resulted in hundreds of firefighters, family, and friends climbing to raise donations for Tunnel 2 Towers Foundation and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. His passion for leading charity events also led to hosting the Murph Challenge which raised funds for the Murph Charities. Out of the Murph Challenge, leading people, and a love for the great outdoors his company Sea Level Strength was born. An outdoor fitness company that takes full advantage of training in the great outdoors while leading classes as a Crossfit Level 2 trainer. In addition to Sea Level Strength, you can catch Jim in the great outdoors year round at every opportunity. He spends his summer on the water training for the next Stand Up Paddle Board ocean race, in the winter snowboarding on the mountains with his boys. James is a proud dad to two sons, one Ironman and one ocean lifeguard for a South Jersey Beach Patrol.

Lead Instructor

Chris Warden

Chris Warden is an O2X Lead Instructor and firefighter with a passion for helping others achieve their health and wellness goals. With over 8 years of experience as a personal trainer and firefighter, Chris has gained a wealth of knowledge and skills in the field of health and fitness. He is a certified IAFF Peer Fitness Trainer and IAFF Peer Support, providing support and guidance to his fellow firefighters.

Chris has worked for two full-time fire departments, the Waterford Regional Fire Department, and the City of Ann Arbor Fire Department, where he is currently making a significant impact. He is the chair of the AAFD Health and Safety Committee and is working towards establishing a health and wellness branch for the department. Chris is also a representative on the Ann Arbor City Health and Wellness Committee, where he advocates for the importance of physical and mental health in the workplace.

In addition to his certifications, Chris is currently pursuing his BS in Health and Wellness. His dedication to ongoing education and professional development is a testament to his commitment to excellence in the field of health and fitness. In 2019, he successfully passed the NSCA TSAC-F test and was granted the associated credentials, further demonstrating his expertise.

With his unwavering passion and dedication to serving his community, Chris is a true leader and culture change agent in the fire service. He is a humble and approachable mentor who inspires his colleagues to prioritize their health and wellness. Chris’s expertise and experience make him an asset to the first responder community, and his commitment to ongoing education ensures that he is always up-to-date with the latest health and fitness trends.

Lead Instructor

Kenny Hayes

Kenny Hayes is a Captain with the Boston Fire Department where he has proudly served for over 25 years, working on the busiest companies throughout the city. Kenny is passionate about all training relating to fire ground survival and rescue. He has developed and lead all aspects of this type of intense, hands-on training for over 15 years. This passion for the subject has enabled him to travel all over North America both as a student and now Master Instructor for the IAFF Fire Ground Survival program. In addition to his passion for firefighter rescue training, Kenny is also heavily involved in department leadership and officer development training all new company officers. None of what he has done in his career would be possible without the support he receives from his family at home. Kenny served 4 years in the Navy where he met his wife Christina, who proudly served in the US Navy for 6 years. Together, they have 2 beautiful daughters. Bella is a sophomore at the University of Chicago and Lola is currently a junior in high school. Kenny recently turned 50 years old and set a personal goal, to run the Boston Marathon in 2024.

Lead Instructor

Jeff Greene

Jeff Greene is an O2X Lead Instructor. He’s a distinguished federal law enforcement leader with a career spanning over 15 years within the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). He currently serves as the Assistant Port Director for CBP at the Port of New York / Newark, where he leads a dedicated team of over 400 employees. Previously Jeff held the role of Senior Advisor to CBP’s Office of the Commissioner, stationed at CBP Headquarters in Washington D.C., where he oversaw various specialized teams, including Task Force Officers, Confidential Human Source Handlers, and Special Response Team Operators.

Lead Instructor

Jessica Crowley

Jessica is an O2X Lead instructor. With 27 years as a police sergeant, Jessica is a seasoned law enforcement professional renowned for her roles as a hostage negotiator, firearms instructor, and leader of the Crisis Intervention and Wellness team in the western suburbs of Chicago. A three-sport high school athlete and two-year collegiate athlete, her trajectory shifted due to a duty-related injury, leading to 25 leg surgeries and hip and knee replacements. Rising from physical challenges, she transformed into a mental performance and trauma specialist. Beyond her impressive law enforcement career, Jessica’s resilience shines in feats like hiking the Grand Canyon Rim-to-rim-to-rim and completing a 3-day, 33-mile trail run. As a High School Girls Basketball Coach and devoted family woman, married for 30 years with three daughters, Jessica brings a holistic perspective to human performance.

Lead Instructor

Chris Horkan

Chris is an O2X lead Instructor. He recently retired from law enforcement after a 32-year career. Chris began his law enforcement career with the Massachusetts Norfolk County Sheriff’s office in 1992 as a corrections officer. During his tenure he rose to the rank of Sergeant, was a team leader of the Sheriffs SRT unit and became a certified Mass Police Training Council defensive tactics Instructor. While with the sheriff’s office he was assigned to the METRO-LEC SWAT, a regional SWAT team. In 2002 he started with the Pembroke Police Department in Massachusetts as a patrol officer. During that time, he was certified as an MPTC Instructor in Firearms, Taser, and physical fitness. While with the Pembroke Police Department he was assigned to SEMLEC SWAT, where he rose to the rank of Operational Commander. In 2018 he attended the DEA Clandestine Drug Lab Course in Quantico Va. and became a member of the DEA Clandestine Drug Lab Entry Team New England Division. In 2020 was promoted to detective with the department until his retirement in 2024. Chris is a physical fitness enthusiast having shared his knowledge instructing police officers, CrossFit members and high school athletes.

Instructor

Billy Hegedus

Billy Hegedus is an O2X Instructor with an impressive 21 years of experience in the fire service. Billy began his career as a volunteer firefighter in Woodbridge, New Jersey, and has served the last 13 years with the highly-acclaimed New York City Fire Department, FDNY. Billy also spent some time down in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. He now resides in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Because burpees are his least favorite thing to do, Billy decided to start Strongman Training. For the past 5 years, he has been growing his strength at the Brooklyn, NY, Global Strongman Gym. Billy has evolved to compete in the Strongman’s Hero’s Division. This division includes police, military, EMS, and fire. Billy enjoys the diversity of training programs that O2X has to offer. Since he was a bigger guy in the fire service, he needed guidance to find the right, tailored program for himself. O2X was the answer. Billy claims that if you ever need rocks moved in your backyard or you forget your car jack, he’s the guy to call!

Instructor

Andrew Jenkins

Andrew Jenkins is an O2X Instructor from Virginia and has been a career firefighter/paramedic with Loudoun County Fire and Rescue for the last seven years. Drew is fortunate to be able to find a career that combines his passion for fitness and wellness along with having an impact on his community. When Drew isn’t on shift or assisting at the department’s health and wellness facility you can catch him outdoors or on the mats training Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Instructor

John Sarsfield

John Sarsfield is an O2X Instructor. John has worked professionally in the fitness industry since 2007.  In this time, he has coached, developed, and managed both clientele and other fitness professionals.  With this work experience, John has developed a wisdom that allows him to guide anyone looking to enhance their strength, conditioning, nutrition, and recovery by making things simple for the individual.  He has worked with every type of person throughout his career from athletes, to business professionals, to stay-at-home moms.  His passion is simple; allow everyone to perform at the highest level capable of them.  John’s credentials include a BS in Kinesiology, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), and Precision Nutrition Level 2 Coaching.  In his free time, John mainly spends time with his family who stay active around the year with different fitness activities including skiing, hiking, and golf.

Instructor

Mike Fitzpatrick

Mike Fitzpatrick is an O2X Instructor and proud United States Army Veteran, grateful for the opportunity to serve the last two decades. He completed combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. His most recent role, before completion of service, was as Platoon Sergeant within a light infantry company of the Rhode Island Army National Guard. He currently serves as a Firefighter/EMT-B for a major city fire department in the Northeast, working on an Engine company and serving as an adjunct Fire Academy instructor. Mike holds a B.A from the University of Massachusetts, Boston and considers himself a lifelong learner. He is always eager to engage in discussion and the learning process. He is also a lifelong resident of the City of Boston, where he currently resides with his wife, their four children, and beloved German Shepherd.

Instructor

Dave Carter

Dave Carter is an O2X Assistant Instructor. Dave is going into his 21st year as a  Firefighter/Paramedic with the Portland Fire Department (ME). In addition to his regular duties he is an active member of the department’s Health and Wellness Division and is continually seeking new ways to improve the health and well-being of the department. Prior to joining the fire service, Dave was a Division 1 collegiate runner at the College of Charleston in Charleston, S.C..  It was during that time he was exposed to the importance of having structured training programs and the value of taking proper care of oneself.  He developed a strong interest and appreciation for all aspects of improving performance for which he continues to learn and build upon. After graduating he received his level 1 USA Track and Field certification and went on to become a volunteer assistant coach with the Bowdoin College Cross Country and Track teams. Similarly, he became an assistant coach for a local high school track team.  Having completed a handful of marathons, a dozen triathlons and a number of trail races, he continues to implement the training principles he has learned over the years.

Instructor

Jason Lacayo

Jason Lacayo is an O2X Instructor. Jason has been a police officer for 14 years. He began his career as a NYPD Officer in 2005 and worked operation impact on the 4×12 tour until he transferred to the City of White Plains Police Department in 2007. He worked 18 months on patrol before he moved into the Emergency Services Unit and became a SWAT operator. His unit specializes in rope rescue, vehicle extraction, and special weapons and tactics. He is a state Certified PT instructor and runs the Cooper Standard test to screen new applicants to his unit. Being physically fit is essential to being able to effectively complete his job. However, it is not simply being physically fit that enables him to be able to complete his occupational duties. Mental fitness and wellness are largely under-valued in society as a whole, but more specifically within the first responder community. Jason is a strong proponent of ensuring that all aspects of health and wellness are taken care of in order for any individual to be functioning optimally both on and off the job. He trains hard physically in the gym and makes sure that he takes time to meditate and reflect every day. In addition, Jason has been a CrossFit coach since 2014 and takes great pride in helping others to improve their lives and overall quality of life through fitness.

Instructor

Paul Blaikie

Paul Blaikie is an O2X Instructor. Paul is a Veteran who served two tours in Iraq (2005, 2007) during his 4-year enlistment for the USAF.  Upon being discharged, he became a Boston Firefighter in 2010.  In 2012, he began coaching football at his alma mater, St. Clement High School, where he coached multiple student-athletes that went on to play at the NCAA level, including 7 full-scholarship players and current Miami Dolphin, Larnel Coleman (OT, UMASS).  

Since 2017, Paul has been a Defensive Line Coach at Framingham State University.  Paul has been a part of a staff that has won 3 MASCAC Championships, made 2 NCAA Tournament appearances and won a New England Bowl (2017).  During this time, the Rams have had multiple D3Football.com All-Americans, NEFW All New England selections as well as MASCAC All-Conference players.

Paul was involved in the initial O2X workshop with Boston Fire and it was here he recognized the impact O2X can have.  Since then he has been an advocate of O2X and in 2020 he officially came on board as an instructor.  Paul is currently enrolled at UMASS Boston where he is pursuing his Exercise Science Degree.

Instructor

Whitney Tramel

Whitney Tramel is an O2X Instructor and Strength & Conditioning Specialist. She has coached in
both high school and collegiate settings but has spent most of her time working with tactical
populations. In her current role, she serves as a strength and conditioning coach working with
candidates going through the Air Force Special Warfare training pipeline.

On top of coaching, Whitney is currently pursuing a PhD. Her topic of research is examining
subjective and objective measures of physiological stress in tactical personnel and what can be
done to mitigate those stressors.

Outside of school and coaching, Whitney enjoys being outdoors. You’ll likely find her hiking, shooting
her bow, walking the dog, or finding a cool outdoor patio to enjoy some downtime.

Instructor

Kevin Dautel

Kevin Dautel is an Instructor with O2X Human Performance. Kevin has been with O2X for the past 2.5 years, working closely with tactical athletes in fire, law enforcement, government / federal agencies, and the military. Kevin is a passionate, high-energy coach with nearly a decade of experience working across all aspects of strength, conditioning, and human performance. Since 2012 he has been involved in multiple CrossFit gyms, coaching classes, conducting new membership introductions, movement assessments and screenings, and programming. Kevin has had the opportunity to coach and program elite gymnasts, hockey players, Olympic lifters, and many novice lifters.

Kevin is a Castleton University graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science. Throughout his coaching career he has attended many workshops, such as Powermonkey Fitness Camp under David Durante and Chad Vaughn, both who are Olympians in their sports. Powermonkey features top level coaches in weightlifting, gymnastics, programming, pre and post workout mobility, and a Business of Excellence Seminar.

Kevin has also worked with ActiveLifeRx, an organization of Chiropractors and Physical Therapists to help better assess and create programs for athletes that have struggled with shoulder, hip, knee, and lower back injuries. Workshops include hands-on training to help athletes make better decisions and form a more accurate understanding of flexibility and mobility, as well as how movement impacts injury and performance. His passion is helping people get better every day and pushing them towards their goals.

Instructor

Christina Morris

Christina Morris is an O2X Instructor. Christina is also a wellness entrepreneur and the creator of Gypsy Fit- an online wellness platform. Her Bachelors in Education has empowered her to coach thousands of athletes and clients over the course of the past 10 years.

Her coaching journey began in 2011 at a Crossfit gym in Boston and has evolved into the creation of her own brand which promotes a more holistic approach to health. She equips clients with a roadmap towards sustainable wellness for their life’s journey through a variety of her nutrition and training programs.

Christina is passionate about learning and evolving her coaching style as she continues to grow. Her certifications and continuing education include: Box Fit Certified, Crossfit Level 1 & 2, Crossfit Strongman, Juggernaut Powerlifting Seminar, Crossfit Mobility, Certified Physical Preparation Specialist, Precision Nutrition and currently working on becoming a Certified Transformational Nutrition Coach.

As a competitive athlete, Christina has competed in the Reebok Crossfit Regional Individual and Team competitions for 4 consecutive years (2013-2016) in addition to competing in an amateur boxing match for charity hosted by Haymakers for Hope at the House of Blues in Boston in 2016.

Christina wears many hats as student, trainer, coach and athlete but has also had the opportunity to work as a fitness model for some major brands like Reebok, UnderArmor and Nike to name a few.

Her passion is using movement and nutrition as the catalyst for change empowering individuals to step into the best version of themselves. She is most proud about her volunteer work with The Phoenix-a nationwide nonprofit sober active community. She helped in the beginning phases of the Boston Chapter and continues to support their organization.

Instructor

Robert Reid

Robert Reid is an O2X Assistant Instructor. Rob is a Captain with Roanoke Fire-EMS, located in Southwest Virginia. He’s been with the department for more than 18 years. Rob is a member of the Heavy and Tactical Rescue Team and is a boat operator for the Swift Water Team. He is also a water rescue instructor for the Virginia Department of Fire Programs. Five years prior to employment, Rob was a volunteer firefighter in his hometown. He quickly discovered the importance of physical fitness for his career after an injury. It was after this injury that he was introduced to CrossFit and became a Level 1 coach. As of late, Rob has stepped away from the CrossFit world and into the world of endurance training, more specifically triathlons. Rob has two beautiful daughters and has been happily married for over 16 years.

Instructor

Mark Lane

Mark Lane is an O2X  Instructor. Mark brings a wealth of enthusiasm and knowledge to any team, but above all he brings an air of positivity. He uses his talents for good, and never evil, for the benefit of those around him. He has a passion for working with others to help them realize their full potential. Mark is an USAF veteran and former Firefighter. After an active childhood of team sports, he has spent over 20 years playing competitive rugby and almost 15 years as a CrossFit member and CrossFit Level2 Trainer(CF-L2). In 2005, Mark was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes which has given him a unique perspective on health regarding the tactical athlete with special considerations. Mark recently returned to school to complete a bachelor’s degree in Strength & Conditioning at The Citadel – The Military College of South Carolina. In his spare time, Mark coaches at a Charleston area gym and enjoys life with his family, traveling, playing/watching rugby, and just about any outdoor activity.

Instructor

CJ Gibbs

CJ Gibbs is an O2X Assistant Instructor. CJ first entered the fire service in 2014, when she joined her high school’s Fire Explorer program. After graduating, she continued to volunteer as she went through EMT, Paramedic School, and Fire Academy. CJ was hired by her first career department in 2009, then began working for her dream department, Denton FD, in 2012. Currently, CJ works at Denton’s rescue station and serves as an instructor for the department’s training program. CJ has a B.A.A.S with concentrations in Health Promotion, Public Administration, and Emergency Management from the University of North Texas. She has been a Crossfit Level 1 Trainer since 2016 and has used that training to help men and women prepare for careers in the fire service. CJ also serves as the Grant Coordinator for 555 Fitness, a non-profit whose goal is to help first responders create a resiliency to illness, injury, and disease. In her spare time, CJ works as an Adjunct Instructor for Tarrant County College’s Fire Program and travels the world.

CJ’s passion to help others with their fitness journey stems from her past. Though always active, CJ struggled with being overweight until the age of 20, when she adopted a life of healthy eating and fitness. The accumulation of small changes over time allowed her to have a career she is passionate about, adventures she will never forget, and experiences she will forever cherish. It is her goal to help others reach their health and fitness potential, so they too, can enjoy all that life has to offer.

Instructor

Brandon Haney

Brandon Haney is an O2X Instructor. He is also a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute and has served as a fireman since 2009.  Throughout his fire service career he has provided care as a paramedic, operated as a back step on suppression apparatus, worked as the Driver/Pump Operator, and acted as a fill-in officer. Currently, he is assigned as an Engine Company Officer with Stafford Fire and Rescue in Virginia.

Prior to his most recent assignment, Brandon served two years in the Basic Training Division instructing and managing Recruit Fire Academies.  It was here that he developed a passion for all things health and wellness.  In 2017 he certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA so that he could better serve the tactical athlete community.  Brandon was exposed to O2X in 2018 and began contracting as a Workshop Assistant in 2019.  His favorite O2X pillar is Thrive.  He believes this area is typically overlooked but is critical for success in all other areas of fitness and performance. O2X has impacted him most significantly in the areas of sleep performance and mindfulness.

Instructor

Scott Ziegler

Scott Ziegler is an O2X Assistant Instructor. Scott has been a Firefighter – EMTB for over 15 years. Before becoming a firefighter he was a volunteer FF, worked on an ambulance, and in an emergency room as a tech. After this experience, he was hired into the City of Highland Park’s Fire Department in 2009. Highland Park, geographically,  is a small city completely surrounded by Detroit and has an extremely high operational tempo.  Scott worked there until he was hired by the City of Detroit in 2014, and is currently stationed on the west-side of the city on Truck 25, which resides with Engine 53. 

Scott is a certified Crossfit coach and has coached at a local gym for 6 years as well. He spends much of his free time hunting, fishing, and camping in northern Michigan, and also works for the fire-fighter non-profit, 555 Fitness, as one of their social media managers.

Instructor

Rhett Baron

Rhett Baron is an O2X Instructor who grew up playing ice hockey in San Diego. Having been raised in a military family, he moved to Virginia Beach, VA, and played hockey at East Carolina University. There, he received his B.S. in Kinesiology, and afterwards took an internship with EXOS in Los Angeles. Following the completion of the internship, he relocated to work at the University of Vermont. He also held positions at the Human Performance Initiative (VA) and Prentiss Hockey Performance (CT). He is very excited to be a part of O2X and work with the tactical population.

Instructor

Chris Leyva

Chris Leyva is an O2X Instructor. Chris began his journey in human performance as a division 1 athlete, playing football at Florida International University in Miami, Florida. Shortly after his tenure with the Golden Panthers, he enlisted in the military completing multiple deployments to the Middle East as a Gun Team Leader with 1st Ranger Battalion.

After his time with Ranger Regiment, he then went back to school to pursue a degree in Exercise Science at George Washington University in Washington, DC. During that time he also interned in the Georgetown Sports Performance Department, working with all 29 sports teams and the Iron Hoya’s VETMAG program serving Active Duty and Veteran Status students at Georgetown University. While with the Iron Hoyas he earned his USAW L1-L2 certifications and is working towards his NSCA-CSCS. 

In his spare time, Chris enjoys participating in recreational sports, specifically football, continuing an education in physical therapy, lifting heavy, and is known to be a connoisseur of tacos and Cuban cuisine.

Instructor

Matt McDowell

Matt McDowell is an O2X Instructor who works full time as the Chief of Training & Special Operations for the North Charleston (SC) Fire Department. He is also a Maritime (Law) Enforcement Specialist at a Port Security Unit in the US Coast Guard Reserve and works for the South Carolina State Fire Academy as an Education Specialist where he develops curriculum and instructs.

Matt is originally from Indianapolis, Indiana and grew up an athletic nomad. Having recreationally competed in judo, soccer, hockey and speed skating, he formally competed at high levels in baseball, basketball and tennis. After an interesting high school athletic career, he was invited his senior year to train at the Van Der Meer Tennis Academy in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina before playing Division 1 tennis at The Citadel in Charleston (SC).

After joining the fire department, he immediately became interested in the Firefighter Combat Challenge. Training for competition, and learning from his successes and failures, led to him becoming a personal trainer. He has used that knowledge and experience to help develop and grow health & wellness programs for numerous fire departments, recruit schools and individuals.

Matt is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer & Nutrition Specialist. He has degrees in business and occupational safety & health and is currently a graduate student in intelligence and security studies at The Citadel. He is the owner of Kinetic Development Group consulting and has presented at the national level on topics to include firefighter safety and survival, leadership and resilience.

Instructor

Samantha McChesney

Samantha Hamilton is an O2X Instructor, Firefighter/EMT, and Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach dedicated to providing top-tier injury prevention, strength, and conditioning for tactical, college, high school, and youth athletes. As the founder and owner of a fitness studio specializing in tactical and elite athletes, Samantha’s impact goes beyond individual training. She has worked to transform her department in Concord, Massachusetts, fostering a healthier workplace by introducing pre and post-shift workouts, monthly challenges, and health facts posted to a whiteboard. While also being married to a firefighter, Samantha can understand the challenges of a work/life balance within the tactical population.

Her commitment extends globally, having trained athletes and first responders in various countries, stemming from her study abroad experience in Ireland. With a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science, a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Science, and currently pursuing a Doctorate in Trauma Informed Care, Samantha exemplifies a passion for continuous learning.

Beyond her professional achievements, she actively supports organizations like Military Friends Foundation, Tough Ruck, and 22Mohawks, raising over $100,000 for veterans and first responders. Samantha’s relentless pursuit of self-improvement is evident in her participation in 12 marathons and annual competitions such as the Arnold’s in Strongman. O2X is not just a job for her; it’s her happy place, and her dedication to personal and collective well-being is unwavering. Outside of work, you’ll find Samantha at the gym, exploring the world, playing with her dog, or discovering new ice cream places.

Instructor

Nick Hawkes

Nick Hawkes is an O2X Assistant Instructor. Nick currently holds a position of Master Coach and Education Mentor at CrossFit Invictus in San Diego, California. Nick is one of only a handful of people that has earned the title of Crossfit Level 4 coach. He also holds numerous other certifications including FRCms (Functional Range Conditioning mobility specialist), Kinstretch, CPT, and ELDOA L3. Nick is also a United States Navy Veteran, serving multiple combat deployments to the Middle East as an Aircrewman.

Instructor

Jessica Silva

Jessica Silva is an O2X Assistant Instructor. Jessica has been in the first responder world for most of her career.  She started out as an EMT in San Jose and San Diego.  After a military relocation to Virginia, she moved to the other side of the radio as a 911 dispatcher for the City of Virginia Beach.  After receiving her BS in Criminal Justice, she participated in an internship with Virginia State Probation and Parole, and subsequently worked for the City as a Community Corrections Officer for domestic violence offenders.  In 2011, she started volunteering with a Wilderness Search and Rescue team and shortly thereafter started training as a K9 handler.  She and Nash, the dog, worked numerous searches for missing persons, downed aircraft, and cold case human remains searches throughout the state under the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, in conjunction with both state and local police, fire departments, and rescue personnel.  In addition to raising two children and riding out 14 post 9/11 deployments, she served as Ombudsman for a SEAL command for several years, was part of the shaping of resiliency programs for special forces spouses and families, and is the author of a children’s book about deployment.  She currently lives in Colorado, with her husband, who has recently retired after 27 years in the SEAL teams, enjoying the empty nest life.

Instructor

Zach O’Neil

Zach O’Neil is an O2X Instructor who has been involved in the fire service since 2019. He started his career as a call firefighter and was later hired as a full time firefighter/EMT in 2020 for a town in the metro Boston area. Prior to going full time in the fire service, Zach worked for the City of Worcester’s Division of Emergency Management. Most recently, he assisted in the City’s response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Zach has a B.S. in Emergency Management and is a graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. He played soccer while at the academy and served as team captain his senior year. It was during his time at Mass Maritime when he found his passion for human performance. Zach also trained for and ran the 2018 Boston Marathon which further motivated his interest in fitness and wellness. Zach hopes to share his passion and motivate others within the tactical athlete community. Zach currently lives in the Boston area where he enjoys grilling, hiking and snowboarding in his free time.

Instructor

Luke Cuneo

Luke Cuneo is an O2X Instructor. Luke is from Ashland, MA and graduated from the Dexter School in Brookline, MA in 2014. Luke was named team Captain of his football team for 3 years and named New England Player of the Year his senior season. After high school Luke went to Furman University in Greenville, SC to play football and be a part of the Army ROTC program. Luke played football for all four years and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Health Sciences. In 2018, upon graduation from Furman University, Luke commissioned as a 2nd LT in the US Army.

After college Luke attended Infantry training down in Fort Benning, GA. Upon completion of his training he traveled to Schofield Barracks, HI to serve as an Infantry Platoon Leader from September 2019-June 2021. While in the Army, Luke started to compete in the sport of CrossFit. Luke tried out and was selected to the US Army Warrior Fitness Team in 2021 and serves with the team currently. He has been to CrossFit Semifinals as a team member and has his CrossFit Level 1.

Instructor

Brooke Rich

Brooke DeForte Rich is an O2X Instructor. Brooke completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology and a Masters of Education in Counseling degree at the University of Maine. While at college, Brooke competed as a Division 1 runner for the track and field team. She served as a captain for the women’s indoor and outdoor NCAA collegiate track teams. Early on Brooke developed a passion for the connection of mental and physical health and how they both contribute to overall performance. After several years working in the mental health field, Brooke went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Post graduation, she worked at The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital caring for children and their families. Currently, Brooke is a National Board Certified Counselor, a trained health coach and works as a Registered Nurse in a school setting. She is a lifelong athlete and has competed in many adventure races, triathlons, and endurance events. Brooke lives in Southern Maine with her family and enjoys lifting weights, hiking, being on the water, running, and traveling.

Instructor

Matt Stoneback

Matt Stoneback is an O2X Instructor. Born and raised in Quakertown, PA, Matt attended East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania. There he obtained a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Athletic Training. While obtaining his master’s degree, he became a volunteer Firefighter. After graduating he practiced as an athletic trainer and later was hired as a professional firefighter in Frederick County Maryland where he currently works.

Matt truly loves his job as a career firefighter. Having an educational background in injury prevention and rehabilitation has given him the opportunity to train with and educate others in his department on how every aspect of health and human performance impacts career longevity. After discovering O2X and their focus on tactical athletes, Matt felt he could offer a unique perspective being a firefighter with a master’s degree in athletic training. Matt emphasizes proper technique and training with a purpose, all the while pushing yourself to be the best you can be. He wants to use his background and skills to educate others on how to develop healthy habits for long and fulfilling careers. Matt believes the history of the fire department is strong but there is a need for positive change in the health and wellness part of this profession and he wants to be a part of that change.Matt enjoys fishing, hunting, traveling and taking new classes both in fire and rescue as well as health and safety. He hopes he can bring a positive impact to O2X and bring change to the fire service all across the country.

Instructor

Nate Larkin

Nate Larkin is an O2X Instructor. Nate brings 16 years of career experience from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. Currently at the rank of Lieutenant, Nate is assigned to T425 in Reston, VA. His passion for training is focused on the psychological and physiological stressors which the mind and body are subject to during training and on the fire ground.  Previously, Nate was the Operational Training Unit Lead in the Field Training Branch where he managed, developed, and instructed numerous training classes during conferences both nationally and internationally.  Nate is also a current H.O.T. Instructor at FDIC.

Instructor

Christine LaVopa

Christine LaVopa is an O2X Instructor. Christine earned her B.S. in Physical Education with an emphasis in nutrition at Queens College in New York. She went on to attain her personal training, strength and conditioning and nutrition certifications leading to over 17 years of experience in the health, wellness and fitness industry. She enjoyed playing competitive level softball in high school and also competed in fitness competitions at the national level.  

As a wellness coach, she creates adaptable strategies and solutions for her clients. Her clientele ranges from professional single women to busy mothers, specifically military mothers. As a military spouse and mom, she has an appreciation and a great deal of gratitude for how challenging the military life can be so when she gets to help military members and their families, it brings an extra degree of accomplishment. Living healthy and being fit is her daily routine and when she isn’t helping clients she is learning more about fitness, nutrition and wellness to further serve her clients at a higher level.

Although health and wellness is her passion, the second biggest joy in her life is her family. Spending time with her husband and kids. She’s also a true beach bum and enjoys the sun and sand at every opportunity.

Instructor

Joseph Tardiff

Joseph “JT” Tardiff is an O2X Instructor who has been involved in the fire service since 2021. Before his career as a firefighter, JT worked as a State Special Police Officer for 10 years. JT has also been involved in coaching athletes since 2014 after he competed in the New England CrossFit Regionals where his team placed 8th overall. There he found a passion for fitness and living an active lifestyle and wanted to further his knowledge by obtaining his CrossFit level  1 & 2 trainer certifications. JT has worked with athletes in the class and individual settings to pass on his knowledge of fitness and overall health. He also played baseball and rugby growing up which helped shape his team mentality which he incorporates in his classes.

Instructor

Patrick Farr

Patrick Farr is an O2X instructor who became an entrepreneur over ten years ago by taking the leap from the corporate world and opening a juice & smoothie bar called Quench Juicery.  Since opening location #1, the business has expanded to 4 separate locations throughout New England, two of which have subsequently been sold off, and the remaining locations have now been franchised.  Patrick is also active in the CrossFit community, being a former co-owner of CrossFit Overthrow, and holds his CrossFit L2 Trainer designation.  Patrick holds a B.S. in Economics/Finance from Bentley University.  Being a lifelong sports and fitness enthusiast, Patrick is a 6-time marathon finisher and enjoys sharing his knowledge of nutrition (Quench Juicery) and strength and conditioning (CrossFit) with like-minded individuals.  In his spare time, Patrick enjoys spending time with his wife, Emily, and doing anything physically active in an attempt to burn off the endless energy of their three young rowdy boys.  He looks forward to a lifetime of physical activity and is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to teach his young boys how to one day grow up to become great men.

Instructor

Alima Mims

Alima Mims is an O2X Assistant Instructor. In 2001 Alima began volunteering with a local fire department in South Georgia, his volunteer work would later lead him to relocate to Augusta, Georgia where in 2007 he would be hired as a fulltime firefighter. Alima currently has nearly two decades of fire service experience. He has a bachelor’s degree in public safety administration and is working on his Master’s in Homeland Security. He has his Health and Safety Program Manager and uses this to guide agencies on both injury prevention and fitness. Alima is a certified CPR instructor for The American Heart Association and an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with the State of Georgia.  His hobbies include obstacle course racing, traveling, and helping others achieve their fitness goals. He also has a passion for health and as a result, obtained his nutritionist certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine to help others become more physically active within the different lines of work.  Alima currently works for the Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security and has been with the agency for 4 years now. He is a liaison for the GSAR (Georgia Search and Rescue Teams) across Georgia and the regional Hazardous Material Teams, which includes the deployment and dispatch of these units in the event of a disaster throughout Georgia.

INSTRUCTOR

Hans Olson

Hans Olson is a O2X workshop instructor. He currently works with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). In this capacity, he works with the Department of Defense, Special Operations Command, and the intelligence community transitioning next generation technologies to keep the U.S. at the forefront in the global competitive environment.

Hans previously worked as a Senior Vice President with Teneo Risk. In this role, he led strategic engagements and advised CEOs, management teams, and executive boards on issues relating to cyber and physical security risks and mitigation strategies, crisis preparedness, planning, management and response.

He was the Cyber Engagement Manager supporting the U.S. State Department’s Global Engagement Center. Their mission is to lead, synchronize, and coordinate the U.S. Government’s interagency technology efforts to counter foreign propaganda and disinformation.

Hans was also the Assistant Undersecretary for Homeland Security, and the Senior Advisor for Antiterrorism and Cybersecurity, Executive Office of Public Safety & Security, Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In this role, he oversaw multiple agencies and the Homeland Security Grant Process for the state, as well as developed comprehensive antiterrorism and cybersecurity policies.

Prior to his role with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Hans was the CEO of SubSea Energy North America, an innovative energy company that developed micro-hydropower systems for the Department of Defense.  Earlier in his career, Hans was a civilian intelligence officer with the Department of Defense and a Navy Reserve intelligence officer working primarily with the special operations community. He has multiple overseas tours, including two deployments to Afghanistan.

Hans holds an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School, an MBA from Babson College, and a MA and BA from the University of New Hampshire.

Instructor

Kayla Stoneback

McKayla Stoneback was the first On-site specialist for O2X. She started with O2X as an On-Site Specialist for Frederick County Fire and Rescue Services in Frederick, Maryland. She has worked with the tactical population for over eight years now, implementing annual movement screenings, pre-habilitation programs, tactical strength and conditioning programs, and developing an overall health and wellness program for career fire departments. Since then, she has relocated to the Midwest and continues to work as an O2X Workshop Instructor. 

McKayla graduated with a B.S. Exercise Science and a minor in Nutrition. Her experience in human performance started on the athletic side, working with athletes of all ages and ability levels. From there, she wanted to expand her experience and knowledge in the human performance field and became involved with the tactical side of human performance. Kayla then went back to continue her education and graduated with a Masters of Science in Kinesiology and Outdoor Recreation: Sports Performance & Conditioning from Southern Utah University. She chose to complete her Master thesis research within the tactical population. Her research was focused on identifying the significance of the relationship between the physical demands of firefighting and the physical fitness qualities of firefighters. Her research was then published. In addition, McKayla is also a certified Pregnancy & Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist and Athleticism Coach. 

Outside of work you will find Kayla spending time with her family and friends, enjoying the outdoors. Her and her family enjoy working out together and staying active. Kayla enjoys fishing, camping, hiking, hunting, and staying active with her husband, kiddos, and their dog Koda.

Instructor

Kortney Leazer

Kortney Leazer is an O2X instructor and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). Kortney was a collegiate athlete while studying Criminal Justice and Spanish at the University of Lynchburg and joined the Virginia State Police after graduation. While working full-time, Kortney completed her Master’s of Science in Human Performance in 2024. She is currently working with local law enforcement and fire departments to enhance their physical performance and wellness.

Resilience Specialist

Sara Hendershot

Sara Hendershot is an O2X Thrive Specialist. Sara is a lifelong athlete and competitor. She grew up in Boston, MA where she developed a love of sports from an early age. During her high school years, she moved to Simsbury, CT where she was introduced to the sport of rowing. Immediately drawn to the nature of the sport, she realized that this highly technical craft rewarded relentless hard work, and she committed herself to the goal of competing in college.

This lead Sara to be recruited to row at Princeton University where she became her team’s Captain, a two-time All American, and graduated with a B.A. in Psychology. Upon graduation, she earned her way onto the United States Women’s National team and became a two-time World Champion and 2012 Olympian in the Women’s Pair where she finished in fourth place. Through this journey, she faced several bouts of injury, which lead her to study human movement and physiology and develop a passion for coaching and high performance.

After retiring from the sport of rowing, Sara has taken the lessons she learned from professional sport and applied them to performing in business and life. She has developed a career in brand marketing for health and fitness companies, where most recently she helped build a sports nutrition brand from before its launch to its fourth consecutive year of growth. She is also a performance consultant to the Harvard Women’s Rowing Team, an avid mental health advocate, and she continues to compete in athletic events like the NYC and Chicago marathon. Sara now lives in Cambridge, MA with her husband Mike, son Maverick, and French Bulldog Bron.

Resilience Specialist

Ray Norton

Ray Norton is an O2X Instructor and Resilience Specialist. He began his fire service career in 1987 as a volunteer firefighter at Tarpon Springs Fire Rescue in Florida and was hired on full-time a year later; became a paramedic in 1989; and in 1994, he began working for the Pinellas Suncoast Fire and Rescue District. He is currently a District Chief in charge of command of control of incident operations and management. During his career he held positions as Driver Engineer, Lieutenant, Training Chief, EMS Chief and assisted with the Operations Chief position.

In 1990, Ray began working as a medic in a Level 2 adult and pediatric trauma center (Bayfront Medical Center), and soon joined the crew of Bayflite, the hospital’s aeromedical program specializing in trauma. It was the busiest trauma response helicopter in the nation with 97% of calls being scene responses. The program provided services for All Children’s Hospital for pediatric and neonatal transports. He also became one of the primary preceptors for the emergency room and Bayflite.

Ray also worked at the Pinellas Fire academy teaching mostly live fire exercises to new recruits and coordinated with other training chiefs in the county to provide inter-agency training drills.

During his off hours, Ray joined his wife to start up a nonprofit she co-founded for combat veterans where he functioned as the fitness and event coordinator. This organization utilized alternative therapies to assist Veterans with PTS transition back to civilian life and help with stress management. He also taught martial arts (Kali-stick and knife fighting) as an alternative modality to help manage stress and be present in the here and now. Ray recognized the overlapping need for these modalities and helped guide the program to provide services to first responders with PTS.

Ray is a lifelong practitioner of martial arts, owns a martial arts school and has a passion for fitness. He became a yoga instructor and co-owns and manages a yoga studio with his wife Janel where they also provide services for veterans and first responders.

Resilience Specialist

Myron Burns

Myron J. Burns, PhD is an O2X Resilience Specialist. Dr. Burns completed his undergraduate studies from Howard University in Washington, DC and graduate training in Counseling Psychology from Tennessee State University in Nashville, TN. In addition, he has completed post-doctoral training in health psychology from the University of Miami. Dr. Burns is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at Novasoutheastern University College of Psychology.

He has instructed a variety of courses in psychology, counseling, and substance abuse. Dr. Bruns has worked with individuals, families, first responders, and military personnel on processing trauma and stress, depression, drug use, and stress management. His research interests are in health, personality, resiliency, and stress process variables. Dr. Bruns is a native Floridian, and when not working, this self described “military brat” can be found in the gym or traveling abroad.

Resilience Specialist

Lauren Simmonds

Lauren Simmonds is an O2X Resilience Specialist. Lauren Simmonds has been a licensed clinical psychologist since 2015. Lauren went to the University of Central Florida for her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and continued her education at Nova Southeastern University where she obtained both her Master’s and Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology.

Lauren completed an internship at the Southern Arizona VA in Tucson, AZ and residency at the James A. Haley VA in Tampa, FL. Lauren continued her work with the military/Veteran population at Womack Army Medical Center in Fort Bragg, NC, working primarily with the 82nd Airborne Division.

In 2019, Lauren went through support assessment and selection for AFSOC-GSU and began her career with Special Operations. Presently, Lauren is working at the Joint Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, NC. Lauren has extensive experience with trauma focused interventions for the treatment of PTSD (combat and MST), as well as the treatment of TBI, depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance.

Resilience Specialist

Elizabeth Werly

Dr. Elizabeth Werly is an O2X Mental Performance and Resilience Specialist. She has a foundation in clinical psychology and works as an operational aviation psychologist for the United States Army. Dr. Werly has provided individual and organizational consultation for military personnel in both training and deployed environments.

Her training focuses on performance enhancement in high stress, fast-paced environments with extreme performance expectations. Her work focuses on education, self-awareness, and advanced resilience training for individuals and teams in order to build and foster a culture of well-being for continued advancement and peak performance. Dr. Werly has been working with the military since 2015 and has deployed twice in support of combat operations.

Her areas of expertise include: performance enhancement, advanced behavioral consultation, resilience and mental performance, personnel selection, executive coaching, leader coaching and development, training and program support, performance psychology, generational trends, and program evaluation.

Dr. Werly currently lives in Nashville with her Husband Dan and their son, Jack.

Resilience Specialist

Shumi Rawlins

Dr. Shumi Rawlins is an O2X Resilience Specialist and a licensed clinical psychologist. In 2005, after completing her training and licensure as a Psychologist, she earned her commission in the United States Navy. She later went on to serve in the Reserves. Dr. Rawlins has spent over 15 years combining her clinical work with her experiences as a military spouse in order to support active duty service members and their families as a clinician and teammate. 

In her role as an embedded psychologist at a Special Operations command, she became highly experienced at recognizing and addressing the outcomes of working in a high-risk environment and teaching strategies for strength and resilience. 

By having a specialization in assessment and selection, Dr. Rawlins has developed an understanding of the personalities and characteristics of those drawn to working in high-risk environments and necessary techniques for success and effectiveness.

Resilience Specialist

Kally Swibes

Kally Swibes is an O2X Resilience & Mental Performance Specialist. She currently works for Versado Training – a company out of Raleigh Durham, specializing in adult learning within the life science industry. Prior to Versado, Kally worked in the advertising industry in Chicago and helped start a program called Athletes Connected, a collaboration between the University of Michigan and the NCAA. Her work with Athletes Connected allowed Kally to speak to Student Athletes at the University of Michigan and around the Big Ten about her struggles around mental health. The goal of these workshops was to normalize the topic of mental health and to promote help seeking in student athletes – a group who generally does not reach out for help when struggling with mental health issues.

Kally now speaks with student athletes and organizations around the country using her story to demonstrate the power of human performance and how it contributes to the success of every individual.

Resilience Specialist

Andy Haffele

Andy Haffele is an O2X Resilience Specialist and former Navy SEAL. After graduating from high school in a small-town in southern Wisconsin, he was appointed to attend the U.S. Naval Academy. While attending the Naval Academy, Andy studied Computer Science and participated in intercollegiate boxing. He graduated from Annapolis in the spring of 2001.

Upon his U.S. Naval Academy commissioning, Andy received orders to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL(BUD/S) training in Coronado, CA. He started the SEAL training pipeline in the fall of 2001 and earned his SEAL Trident approximately 2 years later. Andy’s first duty assignment was to SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team ONE (SDVT-1) in Pearl Harbor, HI where he reported in November 2003.

After only four months of training in his first SEAL platoon, he was critically injured during a training exercise in Hawaii on March 18, 2004. He was accidentally shot in the upper right chest from approximately 15 feet away with a military assault rifle. Despite the near fatal wound, he survived the initial injury but sustained severe nerve damage to his entire right arm/shoulder. Andy continued therapy and received numerous surgeries to improve the function in his arm for nearly four years while remaining on active duty. The injury resulted in permanent nerve damage and he was subsequently medically discharged from the Navy.

After leaving the service, he has worked in the Information Technology sector. Andy currently works for a law enforcement agency in the Rocky Mountain region, where he assists the agency with technological needs and is involved with their special tactics unit.

Since his time in the military, Andy has felt very fortunate to get a second chance at life through his unique experiences. He looks back on everything that took place in a positive aspect and shares his story with military personnel, first-responders, and Christian organizations around the country. Andy and his wife have been blessed with three wonderful sons and currently reside in the mountains of Colorado.

Resilience Specialist

Jennifer Pugh

Jennifer Pugh is an O2X Resilience Specialist with expertise in mental health skills training. Her areas of focus include acute and chronic stress management, emotion regulation, anger management, effective communication, crisis intervention, mindfulness, and cognitive restructuring. Jennifer served for many years as a staff clinician at her local VA hospital, engaging servicemembers, veterans, first responders and government employees in a variety of mental health treatment modalities. She now owns her own practice and teaches graduate clinical courses at Boston College. 

Jennifer received her B.A. in Psychology from Boston University and her MSW with a focus in veterans and military families from Boston College. After graduation, she went on to complete an academic fellowship at the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute. She is currently licensed to practice clinical social work in Massachusetts and New York, and is certified in Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy. Her professional experience includes the provision of individual psychotherapy, group therapy, clinical case management, and psychoeducation training in both inpatient and outpatient mental health settings. 

With personal ties to law enforcement and the military, Jennifer appreciates that the optimization of mental wellness is an integral part of maximizing human performance. Following the same advice she gives her clients, her free time consists of eating fun foods, getting outdoors, catching quality zzz’s, and working up a good sweat.

Resilience Specialist

Arno Ilgner

Arno Ilgner is an O2X Resilience Specialist with expertise in stress management, resiliency, and all things mental training for tactical athletes & first responders nationwide.

Arno distinguished himself as a pioneering rock climber in the 1970s and ‘80s, when the top climbs were bold and dangerous first ascents. These personal exploits are the foundation for his unique physical and mental training program–The Warrior’s Way ®. In 1995, after a thorough search of the literature and practice of mental training and the great warrior traditions, Arno formalized his methods, founded the Desiderata Institute, and began teaching his program full time. Since then, he has helped thousands of students sharpen their awareness, focus attention, and understand their athletic (and life) challenges within a coherent, learning-based philosophy of intelligent risk-taking. Arno considers the joy and satisfaction in the effort – the “journey” – intimately linked to successful attainment of goals, the “destination.”

Arno has taught clinics across the U.S.A. and abroad. He holds a BA in geology, spent several years operating his own geological consulting firm in the Wyoming oil fields, acted as Chief Financial Officer for an industrial tool distribution company, attended the Army Ranger School, and served a non-combat tour of duty in Korea. He currently resides with his family near Nashville, Tennessee.

Resilience Specialist

Dan Cnossen

Dan Cnossen is an O2X Resilience Specialist. Dan was raised on a 5th-generation family farm in Topeka, Kansas. After successfully completing SEAL qualification training in 2003, he deployed numerous times in support of global special operations. As a SEAL platoon commander, he was severely injured in 2009 in Afghanistan, resulting in the amputation of both legs above the knees. Turning to sport for recovery, Dan eventually began training full-time for the US Paralympic Nordic ski team. He has since competed for Team USA in the 2014, 2018 and 2022 Paralympic Winter Games and is the first male athlete to win a gold medal for the United States in biathlon, a sport that combines cross-country skiing with precision target shooting. Dan holds a BS in English from the U.S. Naval Academy, MPA from Harvard Kennedy School, and MTS from Harvard Divinity School. He has been working with O2X since 2018 as a resilience specialist.

Resilience Specialist

Coleman Ruiz

Coleman Ruiz is an O2X Leadership and Resilience specialist. Coleman is also the Co-Founder and Director of Performance at the Mission Critical Team Institute. The MCTI develops research and practice for the Selection, Training, and Professional Development of Mission Critical Teams, defined as small (4-12 agents) integrated groups of organically trained and educated experts dealing with complex adaptive problems. Mission Critical Teams operate in immersive, but constrained (300 seconds or less), temporally constrained environments where the consequence of failure can be catastrophic. Mission Critical Teams, as examples, include Wildland and Urban Firefighters, Trauma Surgeons, Hostage Rescue teams, elite sports teams, Special Operations soldiers, etc.

Coleman is also an Advisor and Partner at the Liminal Collective, reimagining the future of what is possible as a Human 2.0, Humans 2.0, and Humanity 2.0. The Collective helps create, plan, organize, and execute against some of humanity’s boldest endeavors ranging from space flight and deep-sea exploration to reimagining the future of national security and elite sport. The Liminal Collective serves as the operational planning arm for “never been done” events, and serves the individuals training for performance under pressure in high consequence environments.

Coleman is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and former Naval Special Warfare (SEAL) Officer. All-together, he served six operational combat deployments in both Afghanistan and Iraq. He’s served as troop commander, joint task force commander, and executive officer at various levels of Naval Special Warfare and served in U.S. Embassies in both Yemen and Kenya working directly with the Ambassador’s country team. Coleman also served as a Training Officer at both the basic and advanced Naval Special Warfare (SEAL) training schools.

Coleman has served as a trainer, educator, and advisor for over a dozen collegiate teams, and professional athletic organizations.  He serves as a US Naval Academy Trustee for Athletic and Scholarship Programs and serves as a Senior Fellow at the US Naval Academy’s VADM James B. Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership.

Since completing active duty service in 2011, Coleman has also served as the Executive Director of Carry the Load in Dallas, TX, a 501(c)3, as a board member at Tip of the Spear, a veteran-focused non-profit, and member of the Station Foundation’s veteran transition programs. Lastly, he often serves as a Mentor at COMMIT Foundation transition workshops, where senior retirees or high-potential veterans are creating their path into the private sector.

Coleman graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a B.S. in Mathematics and earned an MBA in Finance at the Government School of Business & Public Policy from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA.

He lives in Annapolis, MD with his wife Bridget Ruiz and their three children, Coleman (age 16), Ben (age 14), and Oliver (age 10).

Resilience Specialist

Geoff Krill

Geoff Krill is an O2X Resilience Specialist. Geoff is also an adventure athlete, professional skier and public speaker, who first found skiing when he was 12 years old when his family moved from Georgia to Connecticut. He continued to ski recreationally through college until suffering a spinal cord injury in a snowmobile accident in New Hampshire in 1995.  As soon as he received the “ok” from his doctor, he learned to ski sitting down.  

Geoff went from student to instructor that first season with New England Disabled Sports at Loon Mountain in New Hampshire. He now serves as the Executive Director of Eastern Adaptive Sports. Geoff is a member of the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) National Demonstration team, which allows him to travel across the country to share his work at other mountains.  He is also a PSIA examiner in the Eastern Division and spends much of his time leading clinicians and training others in the sport he loves. 

Some of Geoff’s important wheelchair “firsts” include being the first mono skier to tackle Tuckerman’s Ravine on Mt. Washington and the first hand-cyclist to travel the three notches (Franconia, Crawford and Bear notches) and 100 miles in one day.  

He currently lives in North Woodstock, NH with his wife, Heather and two children, Carver and Greta. As his wife puts it, you can always find him out trying to save the world one wheelchair at a time.

Resilience Specialist

Stephen Durant

Dr. Durant is a Dorchester, MA native and rugby player. He is a clinical psychologist and the co-director of the PACES institute at Mass General Hospital, specializing in Sports Psychology (Performance and Character Excellence in Sports). Dr. Durant shares his own story of resilience, and how to tap into your own resilience in times of challenge and adversity.

Resilience Specialist

Jess Moffitt

Dr. Jess (Harmon) Moffitt, Psy.D., is an O2X Mental Performance and Resilience Specialist. She has a foundation in clinical psychology and works as an operational psychologist in the United States Army.  She specializes in personnel selection, advanced behavioral consultation, and resilience and mental performance training for special operation forces. 

She has provided individual and organizational consultation for military personnel in both training and deployed environments.  Her training focuses on a resilience based model of performance enhancement in high stress, fast-paced environments to prevent and mitigate the impacts of work and familial related stressors in these settings.  Her work focuses on education, self-awareness, and advanced resilience training, for individuals and teams, in order to build and foster a culture of well-being for continued peak performance over time in high stress environments.     

Dr. Moffitt has been working with the military for the past twelve years.  She has multiple combat deployments and has spent over 24 months in combat environments, providing psychological support, including traumatic event management to individuals and teams in both Afghanistan and Iraq.  She works with service members and their families to provide preventative stress management training, as well as teaching individuals how to develop and maintain resiliency and growth in the aftermath of trauma and loss.  Her interests expand to working with those in demanding environments to develop and maintain peak psychological performance over the course of their career and beyond retirement or job transition.  

She was born and raised in Colorado, but currently lives in North Carolina with her husband and two children. 

Resilience Specialist

Hunter Barnhill

Hunter Barnhill is an O2X Resilience Specialist and a former U.S. Air Force pilot with over 700 hours logged in the B-52H Stratofortress, and over 600 hours in the T-6A Texan II. As a B-52H pilot, Hunter led his crew in accomplishing a variety of missions. Missions including nuclear deterrence, close air support, air-to-ground, direct attack, and counter-drug. In 2015, Hunter volunteered to be an Instructor Pilot and was thus tasked with the crucial and vital role of instructing and producing the Air Force’s next generation of highly skilled and capable pilots. 

On Easter Sunday 2017, Hunter suffered a seizure caused by a previously undetected brain tumor which required immediate surgery to remove. Hunter was subsequently diagnosed with malignant brain cancer, thus cutting short his military aviation career. The diagnosis led Hunter to develop a deeper respect for resiliency and a new-found passion for teaching others how to implement the life-saving and life-enriching skills into their own lives: “I had received hundreds of hours of resiliency training from the Air Force for the purpose of instructing other Airmen. Even in passing along those resiliency skills to others, I had failed to internalize and apply those skills myself, but that all changed when I received my cancer diagnosis.” The skills and techniques he once used to teach undergraduate pilots now enables him to teach and instruct thousands in developing and building their own resilience. 

Hunter resides in Columbus, Ohio with his wife Crystal, son Nolan, and dog Riley. Despite being found medically unqualified to fly, his passion for aviation continues. He enjoys studying leadership, is a proud Ohioan, and a die-hard Ohio State Buckeye athletics fan, especially football and hockey. Most of all, he loves seizing opportunities to strengthen his faith and spending quality time with his family.

Resilience Specialist

David Meyer

Dr. David Meyer is an O2X Resilience Specialist who is also a licensed psychologist with a focus on PTSD/trauma. While attending college for environmental science and psychology, he worked as an EMT/firefighter with the US Forest Service. In his 14 years of fire/EMS experience, he served as a wildland firefighter, EMT, engine foreman, and helicopter rappeler with the Jackson Helitack before deciding to shift his career toward psychology, with an emphasis on trauma and work with first responders and survivors of trauma. 

Dr. Meyer earned his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of South Dakota with a specialization in Disaster Psychology through the Disaster Mental Health Institute. He responded with the American Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Team and worked with the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center in Thailand. Dr. Meyer completed his internship with the Salem, Virginia VA and postdoctoral training through the Boston VA Healthcare System and Boston University. For his postdoctoral fellowship, Dr. Meyer served as the project director of an NIMH funded longitudinal study focused on risk and resilience in firefighters, working with recruits throughout the US and Canada to identify potential factors that increase resilience. 

Dr. Meyer went on to work with the Maine VA Healthcare System as a member of the PTSD Clinical Treatment Team for five years, where he offered trauma focused treatment to military, veterans, and first responders. Today Dr. Meyer is part of Health Psych Maine, a group practice in Waterville, Maine, where he works with clients on managing stress, treating symptoms of PTSD, and mood disorders. He specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and empirically supported treatments. He has worked with multiple law enforcement agencies and corrections facilities as well as being included in a Maine Public Broadcasting documentary, A Matter of Duty. In his free time, he enjoys exploring the outdoors with his wife and two daughters, running, carpentry, and making maple syrup.

Resilience Specialist

Michael DeVries

Michael DeVries is an O2X Resilience Specialist. He is an Army Psychologist with over 18 years of experience working with high performance teams in the military and civilian sectors. Michael has his Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Counseling Psychology from Western Michigan University. Prior to the military, he worked as a facilitator for corporate team building events. For the past 11 years, he has worked with Special Operations units across the Department of Defense. Michael is board certified in Organizational and Business Consulting and is a certified business coach. His areas of expertise include executive coaching, leader coaching and development, assessment and selection, training support, performance psychology, and program evaluation through data analysis.

Resilience Specialist

Art Miller

Dr. Art Miller is an O2X Resilience Specialist. He earned his doctoral degree in Psychology from Pacific University in Oregon and then joined the US Air Force where he completed his Internship at Wright Patterson AFB Medical Center.  He worked as a clinical psychologist at AF hospitals in NC and NM before moving into Operational and Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape (SERE) Psychology.  He has served as the Chief of USAF SERE Psychology, SERE Medical Flight Commander, Command Psychologist for an AFSOC unit, and he is currently the JSOC Deputy Command Psychologist.  His primary duties involve providing subject matter expertise on all psychological matters relating to Assessment and Selection (A&S), training, organizational health and resiliency, current operations, and behavioral health services.  During his career he has supported the majority of Special Operations Command (SOCOM) units as well as the Intelligence Community (IC) with A&S, SERE support, consultation, and special projects  He served as the USAF Operational Psychology Fellowship director during his time at JSOC and has multiple deployments to Afghanistan, Qatar, Jordan and other locations in both clinical and operational roles.  He is married to a Social Worker who is retired from the USAF and currently works at JSOC leading the Behavioral Health Program.  In his off time he loves training for triathlons which gives him an excuse to travel the globe to race.

Resilience Specialist

Joe Hassell

Dr. Joe Hassell, Ph.D. is an O2X Mental Performance and Resilience Specialist. Dr. Hassell is a licensed clinical psychologist who has been working for over 8 years as an embedded clinical and performance psychologist for the military Special Operations community. Dr. Hassell has over 20 years of experience working with adults, teens, and children and has worked with many special populations including veterans, department of corrections staff, sheriffs’ departments, corporations, all branches of the military, active duty and retired special operators, and combat support staff.

Dr. Hassell’s passion lies in assisting individuals and teams to perform at their highest level. Elite performers are aware of the importance of physical training; however, mental training is oftentimes less understood and/or overlooked, and it’s essential to unlocking one’s full potential. Dr. Hassell practices mental performance training in the following areas: goal attainment, values living, character optimization, stress regulation, mindfulness, sleep, resilience training, cognitive enhancement, breathing training, public speaking/briefing, team dynamics, leadership training, and injury recovery. Dr. Hassell has also found that sometimes the lines of clinical and sport psychology are blurred and therefore he has focused his career on mental health problems that impede optimal performance, brain health, post-traumatic growth, and works on a multidisciplinary treatment team supporting traumatic brain injury rehabilitation and recovery.  

Dr. Hassell has a B.A. in psychology from Rowan University, an M.A. in psychology from Pepperdine University, and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Alliant International University. He received specialized training in sport psychology and exercise physiology from National University and biofeedback training from Harvard University. Dr. Hassell completed the Advanced Trainer Certification Course (ATCC) on the VirTra combat simulation training program. He is trained to conduct the gold standard sport psychology assessment, The Attention and Interpersonal Styles (TAIS) assessment, and has reviewed assessment results with over 150 special operators.

Resilience Specialist

Jeremy Noble

Jeremy is an O2X instructor who teaches stress management and resilience building. he is a Licensed psychologist who earned his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology before joining the U.S. Army to provide psychological services to soldiers and consultation to their commanders. After a few years in a clinical setting, Jeremy transitioned to serving in units within the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC), where he worked as an operational psychologist providing psychology-specific consultation to maximize individual/unit performance.

Since leaving the Army in 2022, Jeremy has shifted his focus towards helping organization leaders maximize their own performance while also creating highly productive and psychologically healthy environments for their employees. He is board certified in Organizational and Business Consulting Psychology. Jeremy currently resides in Opelika, Alabama with his 9-year-old Doberman, Zeke. Most mornings, you can find them running around their small town, chasing sunrises.

Resilience Speclist

Laurie Craigen

Laurie Craigen is an O2X Clinical Resilience Specialist and an Associate Professor in the Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine Program at Boston University’s Chobanian and Avedesian School of Medicine. At Boston University, she has received teaching and faculty awards highlighting her teaching successes and ability to connect with students. She is also an active licensed mental health counselor in Boston, Massachusetts. Laurie received her PhD from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA.  It was there she developed her passion for working with clients experiencing trauma, grief, anxiety, and depression. Throughout the years, she has developed expertise in working with high performance athletes, clients working in high stress environments, and military connected individuals.

Laurie is also an endurance athlete. She grew up swimming and competed at the Division I level in college. As a marathon open-water swimmer, she is in pursuit of the triple crown of open-water swimming; the 20 bridges swim around Manhattan (which she completed in 2023), the Catalina Channel (which she is attempting in the summer of 2023) and the English Channel (which is scheduled for September of 2024). Additionally, Laurie is an ice swimmer and swims year-round in the ocean. She has also competed at the Vermont Winter Swimming Festival in Newport, Vermont.

Resilience Specialist

Maria Trozzi

Maria Trozzi, M.Ed., is an O2X Resilience Specialist. She is an assistant professor of pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine, Director of the nationally renowned Good Grief Program at Boston Medical Center, a consultant to the Child Development Unit at Children’s Hospital, and an author. Her credentials and expertise have established her as one of the foremost experts on child and family bereavement in the country. Most recently, at the request of the Pentagon, she has been hired as the special resilience consultant to the Naval Special Warfare Development Group.

She has provided consultation at Littleton, Colorado, at Ground Zero in the aftermath of 9/11 and in Grenada following Hurricane Ivan. Since 1991, she has lectured nationally to professional audiences in every major city with Dr. T. Berry Brazelton as a regular faculty member of the National Seminar Series.

For nearly 20 years, as Director of the Good Grief Program, her training for educators and health professionals focuses on promoting resilience in the face of loss via strategies that strengthen coping skills for families, institutions, and communities. Immediately following 9/11, Trozzi’s principal work expanded to care for the loved ones and their families of the victims of the two planes that had emanated from Boston.

Trozzi’s interest in bereavement expands to the grief families experience when a child is diagnosed with a disability, a grief that keeps on giving. Her research is focused on identifying grief touch points – predictable times in a disabled child’s development when parents’ grief is exacerbated. Trozzi’s model for professionals and parents has taken this grief ‘out of the closet’ for both affected families and clinicians that treat them.

She is a frequent contributor to both print and electronic media. She has appeared with Dr. Brazelton as co-host of his national television show “What Every Baby Knows” multiple times, as well as several national news programs including “Larry King Live”, Early Show, CNN, NBC, ande ABC.

Her first book, Talking With Children About Loss, was published by Putnam-Penguin and continues to be an essential reference for parents and professionals. She has also authored several chapters in pediatric and academic textbooks.

She is the parent of two adult daughters and lives in Boston and West Yarmouth. She maintains a private practice dedicated to issues of loss and provides consultation to families facing stressful life events.

RESILIENCE SPECIALIST

Kendra Penski

Kendra is an O2X Resilience Specialist. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in work with the military and Veteran population. She has worked at the Navy Base in San Diego with active duty service members and their partners. Additionally, she worked for 9 years at the VA, providing counseling to Veterans with PTSD, trauma, and transitional care. Kendra currently operates a group practice in San Diego where they focus on treating adults struggling with trauma, relationship issues, PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The group focuses predominantly on working with service members, Veterans, and their family members, as well as other first responders. Kendra is married to a Marine Corps Veteran who is currently finishing his time in the reserves. She has 3 young kiddos and loves to spend her time by the beach in San Diego doing anything active.

RESILIENCE SPECIALIST

Carlos Garcia

Dr. Carlos Garcia is an O2X Resilience Specialist. As a Clinical Psychologist, Executive Coach, and speaker who is dedicated to helping individuals unleash their full potential through high-performance counseling, coaching, and consulting. He is the Founder of The Mastery Group, a company that provides individuals and organizations with the tools to take their leadership and performance to the next level. He is also the Founder of Tampa Counseling and Wellness, a private practice that provides therapy and wellness services to individuals looking to positively transform their lives.
Dr. Garcia received his doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Nova Southeastern University and completed his residency at Rutgers University. Dr. Garcia also served in the armed forces as a United States Marine and as a firefighter and paramedic prior to receiving his doctorate degree. Dr. Garcia draws on his years of experience in both military and professional organizations to teach individuals how to become more masterful leaders and performers. His passion lies in helping others grow and create meaningful and lasting change in their lives. Dr. Garcia strives to help people utilize their natural talents to build a happier and more successful life. He is a true catalyst for those looking to achieve peak results.

RESILIENCE SPECIALIST

Lindsay Braden

Lindsay is an O2X Resilience Specialist. She began her career in the Army National Guard as an enlisted member in 1998. She transitioned to Active Duty in 2007 as an officer, and after completing her residency, she served as an embedded psychologist in two units. Lindsay completed a neuropsychology fellowship, completed her board certification in clinical psychology, and ran several clinics until her retirement in 2020. Since leaving the Army, Lindsay has shifted her focus to working to address insider threats within the DoD and intelligence community. Lindsay also has experience working in assessment and selection, which has helped in developing an understanding of the personalities and characteristics of those drawn to working in high-risk environments and necessary techniques for success and effectiveness.

RESILIENCE SPECIALIST

Robert Owens

Rob Owens is an O2X Leadership and Resilience Specialist. As a Leadership and Resilience Coach, Rob believes that optimal performance in work and life is contingent on the healthy communities we belong to (and the communities that we create for ourselves). Rob has held leadership roles in various sport psychology and wellness organizations and currently serves as the Division Head for Research and Practice for the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. Rob spent most of his professional career in academia designing and implementing professional development programs and teaching courses in leadership, organizational development, coaching, and sport psychology. He retired from academia in 2022 to pursue a career in executive, performance, and organizational development coaching. He is a board-certified leadership coach and a licensed therapist.

Leadership Specialist

Brian Kitching

Brian Kitching is a former Army Ranger and Lieutenant Colonel with over 20 years of experience commanding high-risk missions in Special Operations and other combat units.

In 10+ overseas deployments and 50+ months of combat, Kitching led hundreds of high-risk operations and was recognized on three separate occasions for bravery in battle. Kitching is a recipient of the nation’s third highest military decorations for gallantry, the Silver Star, as well as six Bronze Stars, two awarded for valor.

Kitching served as a Downin Scholar at the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point and as a military fellow at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation at King’s College in London. His recent assignments include serving as a White House Fellow and Advisor in the Domestic Policy Council and Office of Management and Budget, and as an advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Army, the Army’s senior-most General, at the Pentagon. His final assignment was at the 101st Airborne Division, where he was the first African American to command the storied 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment (“No Slack”), and he also served as the Director of Operations for the Division.

Kitching earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Alabama A&M University, a Master of Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and a Masters of Arts in International Affairs from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Kitching is a lifetime member of the Council of Foreign Relations.

LEADERSHIP SPECIALIST

Mark Swinger

Mark is an O2X Leadership Specialist. As a former Blue Angel pilot, “Blue Angel No. 4”, for the US Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron. He was also a Legislative Affairs Portfolio Manager for the US Navy, which entailed briefing high level leadership. Mark is currently an airline pilot for United Airlines. Mark graduated with a Master of Business Administration from Washington State University.

Running Specialist

Jean Gillis

Jean Gillis is an O2X Running Specialist. Jean is a Certified ChiRunning Coach, USA Triathlon (USAT) Level 2 Coach, Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) Holistic Health Coach, and American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Personal Trainer. She began competing in endurance events in 2007, and is a two-time Ironman triathlete, ultra distance trail runner and marathoner. As a USAT Certified Triathlon Coach for the past ten years, she has coached hundreds of triathletes, from sprint to Ironman, to the triathlon finish line. Since her certification as a ChiRunning instructor in 2017, she has been training athletes to use this technique to run more efficiently, and without injury. She works with age-group (non-elite) athletes of all ages who are new to running or triathlon, or who are taking on a new distance. In recent years, she has had the pleasure of training members of the MA Army National Guard in the ChiRunning technique, run training, and mental tactics for the Army physical fitness run test. Jean believes that training for sports is an analogy for life. The skills that you develop through training can help you to perform better in all aspects of your life. In addition to the technical knowledge that she provides, she draws on her health coaching education to assist athletes in finding balance in areas that are outside of training but that strongly influence it; such as work/relationship stress, poor eating habits, and overbooked schedules.

Nutrition Specialist

Maria Urso

Dr. Maria Urso is an O2X Nutrition Specialist. Dr. Urso is a scientific advocate for optimal health and nutrition. She followed her passion for science and health and obtained her PhD in human physiology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. While that degree led her to a career as a scientist, first as an Active Duty soldier in the Army, then in Medical Affairs for industry, she continues to follow her passion for health and nutrition by serving as an advocate and educator. Her philosophy is that nutrition and fitness should be for life, not a single event (or outfit). To do this, we need to follow scientifically-sound and sustainable practices, not the latest story or fad from the media. Maria uses her education in biochemistry, physiology, and nutrition, as well as personal experiences with competitive running, to develop nutrition and exercise plans that make sense and allow her ‘students’ to eat and train for life. She understands that this is an ever-changing field, and staying on top of the latest research is critical. She has published over 30 papers in scientific journals and several book chapters, but she is most comfortable when using her scientific background to write or speak about nutrition and fitness practices. In her free time, Maria loves to run, swim, hike, adventure travel, and read.

Nutrition Specialist

Erik Bustillo

Erik Bustillo is an O2X Nutrition Specialist. He is a Registered Dietitian and former Vice President, ambassador and fellow of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN). Erik is also a Certified Sports Nutritionist through the ISSN, a Certified Strength Coach through the National Council on Strength & Fitness- NCSF, and a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Strength and Conditioning Association – NSCA. He also specializes in reading and understanding blood/lab values that have a direct effect on human physiology and one’s ability to perform. Several fields of expertise are energy improvement, performance recovery, weight loss, working with professional/elite athletes, stress management, inspirational communication, mindset, and habit change. 

Erik has studied the science of nutrition for many years because he believes that nutrition is an elemental factor with the state of well-being. He has been and is currently involved in conducting research studies as well. His mission is to make this world a better place and he strives to accomplish this by helping others achieve their health and life goals. He believes that with hard work and determination, everyone is capable of accomplishing what they set their mind to. 

He enjoys training on a regular basis as he feels what we do in fitness (weight room, gym, field, etc.) translates to the real world. He does this by playing sports, getting outdoors, high intensity training, weight lifting, CrossFit™, and improving his aerobic fitness by running and chasing his dog. Erik is passionate about making his patients/clients push themselves harder and further than they ever imagined. His practical approach puts exercise and nutritional science into easy-to-follow steps for action.

Nutrition Specialist

Patrick McCarthy

Patrick McCarthy is an O2X Nutrition specialist who specializes in performance nutrition and has a background in both sport and exercise science and nutrition. Alongside this, Patrick has 10+ years’ of experience as a basketball coach and 5 years as a semi-professional player in Ireland. His coaching experience has provided him with the ability to communicate effectively to athletes of all types. 

On the other hand, his athletic career provided first-hand experience of the importance of nutrition, training, recovery and all the other 1% details required for optimal performance. In  2018, he was appointed as the senior nutritionist for a top level football club and has been working with high-performance athletes ever since.

Patrick has a passion for bridging the worlds of science and coaching by breaking down evidence-based science to practical and actionable information. He believes that now more than ever, we are what we eat. He strives to help improve peoples’ understanding of what their body requires on a daily basis not only to function, but to excel in training and performance. From this, one’s confidence improves in situations where physical fitness, endurance, strength and recovery are critical. 

Patrick currently hosts a nutrition-related podcast called The Ubuntu Nutrition Podcast, where he strives to complete the goals mentioned above. The term ‘Ubuntu’ is an ancient Zulu phrase that is loosely translated to ‘I am because we are’. It places an emphasis on a family, team approach to everything. At O2X, Patrick can see that togetherness and teamwork are core values, which is why he is so excited to be a part of this brilliant program!

Nutrition Specialist

Tiffany Batsakis

Tiffany Batsakis is an O2X Nutrition Specialist and Registered Dietitian. She earned her Master’s Degree from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas, and completed her dietetic internship there as well. She served in the United States Army for six years. As a result, she is familiar with the needs of the tactical athlete and maintains a high level of physical fitness in her day to day life. Upon completion of her degree, Tiffany worked for the non-profit organization, Meals on Wheels of San Antonio, where she planned the menu and conducted nutrition analysis for the meals served to over 3,800 homebound seniors daily. While at the organization, she counseled clients, worked with kitchen staff and food vendors, maintained the site’s blog, conducted surveys, and mentored student interns. In 2016, Tiffany left her job to travel, mostly in Asia, for two years. When she returned, she started her own business as a consultant and contract dietitian, with a focus on healthy living, nutritious meal plans for clients, menu planning and nutritionanalysis for various organizations, and general nutrition education classes tailored to  the client. 

Tiffany has worked in a variety of settings, including one of the largest grocers in Texas, HEB. As a retail dietitian, she counseled clients and helped shoppers find quality food products, meal ideas, and nutritious recipes. She has also taught Cooking and Nutrition in Recovery (from substance use disorders) at addiction treatment centers, including one facility that caters specifically to active military, veterans, and firefighters in recovery.

As a registered dietitian, Tiffany has a passion for health and wellness and is also a personal trainer. She remains active in her daily life, conducts weekly workouts with members of the fire department, and enjoys the outdoors. She earned a certificate in Topics in Human Behavior at Harvard Extension School and feels behavior change is a very helpful way to improve nutrition outcomes. She is a member of the Academy for Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), and belongs to different dietetic practice groups including, CV Wellness, and the Behavioral Health Nutrition Group through the AND. She has also attended various sports and nutrition symposiums and stays up to date with the latest and greatest in the world of nutrition via webinars, conferences, and training events.

NUTRITION SPECIALIST

Samantha Poccia

Samantha is an O2X Nutrition Specialist. Prior to her time at O2X, Samantha worked in market research for several years. During that time, she collaborated and built relationships with Fortune 500 companies to connect them to their consumers through private on-line communities. She also had the opportunity to work on global accounts in Australia and New Zealand, traveling there to meet with the clients.

Samantha received her Bachelor of Science in Communications with a minor in Entrepreneurship from Syracuse University in 2013. While there, she competed on the Club Women’s Ice Hockey team and was the co-captain her senior year. She decided to change career paths and went back to school in 2017 to become a Registered Dietitian. She received her Master of Nutrition from Simmons University, as well as a Certificate in Sports Nutrition and a Certificate in Integrative Functional Nutrition. While completing her M.S., Samantha researched and co-authored an article investigating the behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs of pregnant women as it relates to their nutrition and supplementation. Her research has been published in Nutrition and Health Journal.

Samantha enjoys running and has completed three marathons and two half-marathons, with her eyes set on more in the future. For the past 8 years she’s been a Lagree and spin fitness instructor in Boston, teaching at SLT and Equinox, respectively. In her free time, Samantha enjoys being with friends and family, including her new nephew, watching movies and shows, reading new books, spending as much time outside as she can, and traveling to new places.

Nutrition Specialist

Chloe Schweinshaut

Chloe Schweinshaut is an O2X Nutrition Specialist. Chloe is a registered dietitian who owns a private practice, Riverside Nutrition in Cambridge, MA. She works with a variety of clients who are looking for ways to improve their health through diet and lifestyle with a particular focus on first responder nutrition.

Chloe has worked with members of the Boston Fire Department, New York Fire Department, Cambridge Fire Department, Boston Police Department as well as private ambulance services to lead a healthier lifestyle by helping them with issues such as weight loss, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. She is also a sought-after speaker and has spoken at Boston Fire’s Mullane Health and Safety Symposium, FDNY’s Uniformed Officers Association NYC Health & Safety Seminar, FDNY’s Annual Retirees Seminar, as well as the first ever Women Firefighter’s Health and Wellness Conference held in Boston. Chloe lives in Cambridge, MA with her four kids, two dogs and firefighter husband.

Nutrition Specialist

Andrea Givens

Andrea Givens, MS, RD, CSSD, is an O2X Nutrition Specialist. Andrea has been a Registered Dietitian for over a decade and is a Board-Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics. She attended San Diego State University for undergrad and completed her dietetic internship through California State University, Sacramento in 2010. 

Andrea spent her early career building a strong foundation in dietetics working as a clinical dietitian in acute care, including serving veterans as a clinical dietitian at the VA. Transitioning into sports nutrition around 2015, she worked with recreational endurance and CrossFit athletes, Division I collegiate athletes at University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA, spent the 2018 MLB season as a Sports Science Intern for the San Francisco Giants, and was a Sports Nutrition Fellow for USA Volleyball during an Olympic qualifying year (2019).

Andrea returned to school and earned master’s degrees in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology concurrently from San Diego State University in 2020. During her graduate program, she began working in human performance research for the military and published data on metabolic demands of cold-water diving in Naval Special Warfare operators.

In addition to providing nutrition expertise to O2X tactical athletes nationwide, Andrea currently works on a physiology team in the Warfighter Performance Department of Naval Health Research Center in San Diego, conducting operationally relevant research to optimize readiness in military personnel. She also volunteers on the Research and Education Committee for the Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitian Association and is a member of the Sports and Human Performance Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

A California native, Andrea is an avid outdoor athlete and has crossed the finish line of numerous half marathons, triathlons, 10Ks, summited Half Dome, and swam from Alcatraz. She is a military spouse and has recently learned how to freedive thanks to her husband.

Nutrition Specialist

Kelli Reese

Kelli Reese is a Registered Dietitian, Board Certified Specialist in Sports Nutrition and O2X Nutrition Specialist. She completed her undergraduate degree at Ohio University, her dietetic internship at The University of Akron and her master’s degree in nutrition from Arizona State University. 

Kelli has been a dietitian since 2010 and has worked in numerous areas of nutrition and healthcare including hospitals, long term care facilities, gyms and a halfway house for drug and alcohol recovery, but her real passion lies in sports nutrition. In the past few years Kelli has worked with an array of athletes including competitive powerlifters, military tactical athletes, high school and adult athletes, runners and triathletes. In addition to her Kelli role as O2X Nutrition Specialist, she is a Clinical Dietitian and Wellness Coach at University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio and in 2021 opened her own sports nutrition practice: Inso Sports Nutrition. She is the current (2022) President of the Greater Cleveland Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and was voted Ohio’s 2020 Recognized Dietitian of the Year by the Ohio Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics for her significant contribution to the profession of dietetics

As an athlete, (having played rugby for seven years before switching to running marathons and half marathons) and personal trainer, Kelli is familiar with the challenges athletes and tactical athletes face on a daily basis. This understanding allows her to take a personal approach in helping clients find nutritional balance when juggling the demands of their sport, jobs and personal life all while remaining competitive and goal oriented.

Kelli lives in Cleveland, Ohio where she was born and raised with her husband (and fellow runner), their four year old daughter, cat and dog. In her spare time she enjoys working out, making funny Instagram Reels and collecting house plants. Her nutrition philosophy: food fuels performance, nourishes the soul and has the power to bring us all together. 

Nutrition Specialist

Alia Elias

Dr. Alia Elias is an O2X Nutrition Specialist who is also a Naturopathic Doctor with a passion for health, nutrition, and fitness. Her overall goal is to make a larger impact on people’s health and performance through empowerment for each individual.

Dr. Elias specializes in gut/brain health and nutrition. She is a Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAPS) certified practitioner. Dr. Elias also devises meal plans and coaches clients on food and eating habits. She helps clients deal with emotional eating and stress and anxiety. Dr. Elias also consults for nutrition with gyms and fitness centers. She is a writer, blogger and speaker which are all centered around food, eating, gut health and self-worth.

Nutrition Specialist

Laura Moretti Reece

Laura Moretti Reece is an O2X Nutrition Specialist who completed her Master’s Degree in clinical nutrition as well as her didactic program in clinical dietetics at New York University. She previously worked as the Primary Nutrition Therapist at Columbus Park Collaborative and Appleman Nutrition in New York City before relocating to Boston in 2015 to join the Female Athlete Program and Sports Medicine/Orthopedics Team at Boston Children’s Hospital.

As a Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics, Laura specializes in sports performance-based nutrition, as well as treating low energy availability, disordered eating, and eating disorders in athletes.  Laura has an extensive amount of experience in consulting and collaborating with Olympic and professional athletes, local colleges and universities, as well as professional sport and dance facilities. She is the consulting dietitian for the Boston Ballet Company and Schools, US Rowing, and is an instructor at the Institute for Rowing Leadership in Boston.

Laura previously served as the Co-Chair of the International Academy of Eating Disorders Sport and Exercise Special Interest Group, as well as the co-chair of the Boston Children’s Hospital Female Athlete Conference. Laura is also the owner of a Boston based private group practice Laura Moretti Nutrition LLC.  She is also a competitive triathlete and a two-time Boston Marathon qualifier and finisher.

Nutrition Specialist

Nicole Farnsworth

Nicole Farnsworth is an O2X Nutrition Specialist. Nicole’s expertise is in sports nutrition; she is a Registered Dietitian who specializes in working with athletes for optimal health and performance. She is additionally an NASM-certified personal trainer. Nicole began working in sports medicine as a Clinical Research Coordinator at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. She received her Master of Science degree in Human Nutrition at Columbia University’s Institute of Human Nutrition and completed a dietetic internship at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center.

Upon completion of her internship, Nicole began working at Van Dusen Nutrition, a group nutrition practice specializing in performance nutrition and the treatment of eating disorders. There she assisted in developing a movement-based curriculum for eating disorder clients to help them redefine their relationship with exercise. She additionally provided nutrition counseling, developed marketing materials, and conducted outreach for the practice.

Nicole is a Clinical Nutrition Specialist with the Female Athlete Program and Division of Sports Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital. She is additionally the consulting sports dietitian for Wheaton College. As a former track and field athlete at Harvard University, Nicole enjoys working with athletes at all levels to help them perform at their best. She has a special interest in working with athletes with low energy availability, disordered eating, and eating disorders.
Nicole is an active member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Sports, Cardiovascular, and Wellness Nutrition Dietetics Practice Group, Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitian Association, and Multi-Service Eating Disorders Association.

Nutrition Specialist

Nick Barringer

Dr. Nick Barringer is an O2X Nutrition Specialist. Nick currently researches and serves as an assistant professor at the United States Military Academy. Previously while working at the United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine he researched Warfighter nutritional requirements in differing environments to include deployed Special Operators. Prior to that, he taught performance nutrition at the Army-Baylor Graduate Program in Nutrition. Nick served in the 75th Ranger Regiment as a member of the Ranger Athlete Warrior (RAW) program where he oversaw the nutrition and aspects of the physical training of Rangers.

Nick received his undergraduate degree in dietetics from the University of Georgia, his master of science in exercise science from California University of Pennsylvania and his doctorate in kinesiology from Texas A&M.

Nick is passionate about improving nutrition and performance in tactical athletes and has the unique perspective of a researcher, teacher, and practitioner who has gone through physically demanding courses such as Ranger School, Survival Evasion Resistance Escape (SERE), Airborne, Air Assault as well as having deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan so he best understands both the academic and applied demands of the tactical athlete. Nick has presented at both national and international conferences on tactical athlete nutrition and performance and his research has appeared in multiple media outlets such as Science Daily and Men’s Journal.

Nutrition Specialist

Alex Cotie

Alex Cotie is an O2X Nutrition Specialist. Alex Cotie has been the Senior Sports Nutritionist at SportFuel, a Chicago-based integrative sports nutrition consulting firm, for the last 10 years. She works as part of the nutrition team for the Chicago Blackhawks, supporting players from development through retirement, and works with athletes in many other sports including tennis, football, baseball, running, swimming, cycling, gymnastics, and more. 

Alex has seen firsthand that great nutrition can have an astounding impact on strength, speed, mental clarity, immunity and digestion, while it can also reduce injury and improve overall performance and wellness. She believes, and science supports, that nutrition is only one component of optimal health and that improving lifestyle factors and emotional health are other very important keys.  

No matter if you’re an athlete or not, no matter if you are 8 or 80, and no matter how small of a change, Alex encourages you to start with one thing—something that speaks to you—to begin nourishing your health.

Alex prefers to be outdoors and having recently moved to Denver, she enjoys spending her time hiking, rock climbing, cycling, gardening and volunteering.

Nutrition Specialist

Sean Spanbauer

Sean Spanbauer is a Sport and Tactical Performance Dietitian and retired Army Officer with over 25 years of service. He is no stranger to the human performance industry, having spent 11 years as a personal trainer and 12+ years as a performance dietitian working with world class athletes and the Army’s Special Forces Operators. Prior to his current position, Sean spent a significant portion of his career as an educator, training military healthcare providers as well as working in a clinical setting as an in-patient and out-patient dietitian. He spent 12 months as a Sports Dietitian Fellow with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOCP) assigned to work with a variety of athletes and sports teams. For the last 7 years, Sean has been the owner/operator of Nurti-Sean Sports Nutrition Consulting, working with the USOCP, multiple NGBs, various college athletic departments, sports performance organizations, and first responders.

In addition to being a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Sean is a Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition and Dietetic from Kent State University and a Master’s Degree in Nutrition from Baylor University.

Nutrition Specialist

Amanda Sheaffer

Amanda Sheaffer is a Nutrition Specialist at O2X Human Performance. Amanda is also an accomplished Dietitian who has worked in various roles across the nation. She first started on the nutrition team with EXOS during the 2017 Combine class for the NFL draft in California. She then shifted to the Wounded Warrior Project to work with veterans nationally for weight-loss and disordered eating management. She moved back to Chicago, her hometown, to serve as the Associate Director of Food and Nutrition for Cook County Health Hospital Systems and was a part of the first COVID-19 response teams for the city. In 2021, Amanda started her private practice, Chicago Nutrition Clinic and opened a second office in Miami. She now also teaches at Miami Regional University and is completing her Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition at University of North Florida. Her passion is identifying challenging populations and developing realistic and sustainable solutions for individuals and populations alike.

Nutrition Specialist

Deanna Busteed

Deanna Busteed an O2X Nutrition Specialist. Deanna is a Board-Certified Sports Dietitian and is currently the Sports Dietitian for George Mason’s Center for Sports Performance, servicing over 500 Division I athletes. She is a member of the adjunct faculty teaching Sport and Exercise Nutrition in the College of Education and Human Development.  Deanna is a Senior Fellow for the Center for the Advancement of Wellbeing, an interdisciplinary research and teaching center at George Mason dedicated to catalyzing human well-being. 
Deanna received her Bachelor’s degree from The University of Rhode Island, where she competed on the swim team. Deanna received her Masters of Science degree in Nutrition Sciences at The University of Massachusetts- Amherst. She completed her dietetic internship at Framingham State College where she completed rotations at Cambridge and Somerville Hospital (Harvard Medical School teaching hospitals). Upon completion of her internship, Deanna spent 13 years working in the Boston Metropolitan area as a Clinical Dietitian and Sports Dietitian where she focused on working with athletes and active individuals with eating disorders. Deanna enjoys running, biking, swimming and teaching Yoga and Pilates to people of all ages. 

Nutrition Specialist

Dorette Franks

Dorette Franks, MS, RDN, is an O2X Nutrition Specialist. As a board-certified Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), Dorette graduated with honors, earning a Master of Science in Nutrition and Human Performance from Logan University, completed a dietetic internship through Iowa State University, received a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from San Francisco State University, and holds coaching certifications on behalf of USA Triathlon and USA Track & Field.

Dorette has worked in the field of nutrition and human performance since 2004. Following the completion of her first Ironman New Zealand in 2001, she quickly established her career as an endurance coach. In 2005, she led as head coach for the San Francisco Nike Women’s Marathon and has continued to coach runners and triathletes to successful Boston Marathon qualifications and Ironman finishes. Dorette is a six-time Ironman finisher, placing 1st in division and 3rd overall female at the Full Vineman, division winner at Ultraman Canada, a three-time Boston Marathon qualifier/racer, and represented Team USA at the USA Triathlon Long Course World Championship. As a clinical sports dietitian she’s worked alongside cardiologists, exercise physiologists, strength trainers, and coaches integrating nutrition support to ultra-cyclists, ultra-runners, and triathletes as they face the most rigorous endurance events, including the Race Across America (RAAM), the Ultraman World Championship, the Ironman triathlon. Dorette addresses performance and health through functional and integrative practices using evidence-based approaches. Her expertise includes pairing nutrition with physiological data (V02, RMR, substrate utilization), biochemical and metabolite testing, sweat and hydration analysis, nutrition for body composition and weight management, mental health (and addiction), gut-health/the gut-brain axis, as well as the menstrual cycle & peri/post-menopause nutrition.

Dorette is passionate to impart her knowledge and expertise to others. Her nutrition tips and coaching plans have been published on behalf of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Sports Cardiovascular & Wellness Nutrition (SCAN), Triathlete, Runner’s World, Shape, and Women’s Health Magazines. She also conducts speaking events for first responders, in corporate health, universities, and sports events.
In her free time, Dorette can be found enjoying open water swims (minus the wetsuit) in San Francisco Bay, riding her bike beyond Mt. Tamalpais, and running the trails with her golden retriever, Leela, who is training to become a First Responder Therapy Dog.

Nutrition Specialist

Rene Scott

Rene Scott is an O2X Nutrition Specialist. Dr Scott holds a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from Texas A&M Dental School, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nutrition and Food Science from Texas Woman’s University, and she recently retired from the US Army Reserves as a Colonel with 21 years of service. Dr Scott owned her own general dentistry practice for over 25 years. She taught Sports Nutrition at the University of North Texas and she taught undergraduate Food Science at Texas Woman’s University.  She deployed twice to Iraq and mobilized in 2020 to Philadelphia in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. COL Scott served as the liaison between the Urban Augmentation Medical Task Force (UAMTF) and the Pennsylvania FEMA, Pennsylvania National Guard, the city of Philadelphia, and the hospitals of Philadelphia. She served as a commander for 6 years and as a brigade operations officer for 4 years. Dr Scott’s interests lie in nutrition, exercise, resiliency, and sleep interventions to increase the longevity of life, with a focus on health span (quality of life). She enjoys golf, pickleball, yoga, and weight training.

NUTRITION SPECIALIST

Mary DeHaven

Mary Pat is an O2X Nutrition Specialist. As an accomplished professional in the field of nutrition and dietetics with a passion for promoting healthy living and optimizing performance through proper nutrition. Mary Pat is currently the Director of the Master of Science in Nutrition & Dietetics program at Drexel University, with a specialized focus on sports nutrition. In this role, she not only shares her wealth of knowledge with aspiring nutrition professionals but also contributes to the advancement of the sports nutrition profession.

Mary Pat earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from the University of Scranton. Her strong foundation in exercise science laid the groundwork for her deep understanding of the relationship between physical activity and nutrition, setting the stage for her future success. Continuing her academic journey, Mary Pat pursued a master’s degree in human nutrition at Drexel University. This advanced degree provided her with a comprehensive knowledge of human nutrition, enabling her to provide evidence-based dietary guidance to individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Mary Pat DeHaven’s career in nutrition and dietetics spans various healthcare and academic institutions, including The Massachusetts General Hospital and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. During her tenure as a clinical and pediatric dietitian, she honed her skills in providing personalized nutrition counseling to patients with diverse medical conditions. Mary Pat is passionate about improving the health and well-being of others and excited about working with O2X!

Injury Prevention Specialist

Amanda Epps

Amanda Borges is an O2X Injury Prevention Specialist. For over 8 years, Amanda has been a noteworthy leader in the human performance space. Amanda has worked with professional and collegiate level athletes, the United States Military and numerous Police and Fire Departments across the country. Amanda holds a Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy and a Masters in Athletic Training from Northern Arizona University, and she is an NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Amanda also competed as a student-athlete for NCAA Division I University of the Pacific while earning her undergraduate degree.

She currently resides in Colorado and enjoys challenging herself with activities including rock climbing, snowboarding, and shooting.

Injury Prevention Specialist

Rachel Oden

Rachel Oden PT, DPT, DACM, L.Ac is a former Commander in the United States Navy currently living in San Diego, California.  She graduated from the Naval Academy in 1995 with a degree in Mathematics and began her career as a Surface Warfare Officer.  She served as the Undersea Warfare Officer, Damage Control Assistant and Training Officer while onboard USS OLDENDORF (DD 972).  While assigned to Assault Craft Unit ONE, she served as the Landing Craft Utility (LCU) Division Officer. After her first two Division Officer tours, she was accepted for a lateral transfer to the Medical Service Corps and became a physical therapist.  Rachel completed her both Master’s and Doctorate of Physical Therapy degrees at Baylor University. Assignments included Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Training Center Pearl Harbor, USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN-71), Navy Branch Medical Clinics, National Naval Medical Center Bethesda and Navy Medical Center Balboa. She has deployed as both a Surface Warfare Officer and a physical therapist to include humanitarian operations onboard USNS MERCY (TAH-19) and supporting ground troops with 2nd Marine Logistics Group.  She finished the last four years of her naval career as the Sports Medicine Manager and head physical therapist leading the Human Performance Program at Naval Special Warfare Center.  Rachel is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy.  She is also a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and a licensed acupuncturist. 

Injury Prevention Specialist

Gregory Hartman

Gregory Hartman is an O2X injury prevention specialist. Greg graduated from the University at Buffalo with his Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree in 2012. He is board recognized as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS). While completing his degree in Buffalo, Greg was a volunteer firefighter and EMT which sparked his interest in working with tactical athletes as he saw the difficulty of the profession both mentally and physically. 

Greg began his career as a physical therapist outside of Ft. Campbell working with both active and retired military. He has since moved to the Northern, VA region where he has worked with a wide range of patients including professional football and baseball players,  first responders, as well as high-performance and endurance athletes.  He currently works full-time with a Special Operations unit in Northern, VA

Greg is passionate about the science behind pain, treatment of chronic injuries, and helping people perform at their best. He believes in a well-rounded approach to health and wellness. In his personal time, he cycles between strength training, CrossFit-style workouts, and endurance sports, to include competing in Ironman distance triathlons. His team at home is composed of his wife and best friend, Deanna and their dog, “Clemmy”.

Injury Prevention Specialist

Colin Tomes

Colin Tomes is an O2X Injury Prevention Specialist. Colin is also a Professor, PhD Candidate, Physical Therapist, Certified Athletic Trainer, and Strength and Conditioning Specialist. His interest in getting 1% better every day began when he enlisted in the US Air Force, with the objective of training to join a front-line combat team. Although he was medically discharged from service for chronic training injuries, during rehabilitation, he developed an interest in learning everything he could about health, wellness and human performance. This led to a bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training, during which he certified not only as an ATC, but as an NSCA TSAC-F and conducted research at Bond University with the Tactical Research Unit and New South Wales Police Force.

From there, he attended Physical Therapy school to earn his DPT at Bond University, conducting additional clinical and research work with the New South Wales Police and Royal New Zealand Police Academy. Colin also certified as a CSCS after PT school and is now currently a PhD Candidate at Bond University. His thesis research is focused on understanding the best applications of heart rate variability and wearable tech for tactical athlete mission and training support, as well as how HRV can be used to improve human optimization support staff efforts. This research is conducted primarily with specialist law enforcement organizations in the US and Australia. Colin’s research is matched closely with his clinical interests, which are focused on injury prevention, rehabilitation and mitigation for military, law enforcement and first responders, primarily through improved physical fitness and education.

In addition to his teaching and research activities, Colin is also an energetic educator and academic advisor to students in pre-health professions. To keep this momentum up, he is a passionate consumer of espresso, loves participating in CrossFit and enjoys relaxing by a lake with his friends and family.

Injury Prevention Specialist

Jess Best

Jess Best is an O2X Injury Prevention Specialist. Jess is also a Physical Therapist and Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy. She has worked as a neurologic physical therapist for 7 years specializing in rehabilitation post-Concussion, Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury, Vestibular Disorders and other neurologic disorders and has worked with the tactical population for over three years.

She really enjoys helping patients reach their personal goals and works to make each treatment plan individualized and creative to meet their needs. She received her B.S. in Exercise Science from the University of Montana and her Doctor of Physical Therapy from the Medical University of South Carolina.

Prior to physical therapy school, Jess worked as a whitewater rafting guide, navigating multi-day rafting trips on the beautiful rivers of Montana and Idaho. She loves being active outside hiking and snowboarding and enjoys traveling to other countries and experiencing new cultures.

Injury Prevention Specialist

Lisa Prasso

Lisa Prasso is an O2X Injury Prevention Specialist. She earned a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from The State University of New York at Buffalo in 2010. After graduation she worked as a travel physical therapist in Texas, Arizona, Oregon and Virginia before joining the medical staff at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. 

Lisa currently works as a staff physical therapist in Walter Reed’s Military Advanced Training Center (MATC). Her focus is on treating active duty service members by providing care to the amputee/poly trauma population with the goal of returning them to the fullest functional potential, post injury. Lisa is a Certified Adaptive Recreation and Sports Specialist (CARSS) and is Safe Sport Training certified. She is also certified in Functional Dry Needling levels 1 and 2, Battlefield Acupuncture and Personalized Blood Flow Restriction Rehabilitation. 

Over the past 10 years, she has treated both civilian and military patients in a wide variety of settings. In her free time, Lisa enjoys exploring new cities, going to sporting events, volunteering in the community and playing in recreational sport leagues. She is also interested in martial arts and recently tested for her orange belt in Krav Maga which she has been studying for the past 3 years.

Injury Prevention Specialist

Deborah Sophier

Deb Sophier is an O2X Injury Prevention and Strength & Conditioning Specialist who received her Bachelor’s of Science in Exercise Science at Indiana University in 2006 and Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Midwestern University in 2014.  She has been a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist since 2006.  Deb is a Physical Therapist and works with a variety of conditions, including injuries to the shoulders, knees, feet, hips, and back.  She has been performing foot and gait analyses and running evaluations for the past 7 years.  She has a unique understanding of law enforcement as her husband is a Police Sergeant in the Chicagoland area.

Injury Prevention Specialist

Nicholas Schumacher

Nicholas Schumacher is an O2X Injury Prevention Specialist. Nick graduated from Boston University as a Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2016. In 2017, Nick completed the Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston, where he received further training in the management of musculoskeletal injuries. He achieved Board Certification as a Clinical Specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy (OCS) in 2018. In 2021, Nick furthered his sports-specific and manual-therapy training by completing the Kaiser Permanente Sports & Manual Therapy Fellowship in Los Angeles and achieved Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy (FAAOMPT) in 2022. In addition to his physical-therapy training, Nick earned certification as a Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) in 2014. 

Nick currently works in Tampa, FL with all branches of the military. He has conducted research with USARIEM (US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine) in the Performance Division to help prevent injuries among Army soldiers. Additionally, he is the founder/CEO of Schumacher PT & Performance, which has developed the RehabKit and FitKit iOS apps. 

As a former D1 collegiate runner, Nick has suffered many injuries, which allow him to better relate with his active patients/clients. He continues to be an avid runner, weight lifter, and obstacle-course racer. He practices what he preaches in every aspect of his life.

Injury Prevention Specialist

Richard Westrick

Dr. Rich Westrick is an O2X Injury Prevention Specialist. He earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the U.S. Army – Baylor University DPT program and completed a Sports Physical Therapy residency at West Point, while earning his Doctor of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Baylor University. He is board certified by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties in both orthopedic physical therapy and sports physical therapy.

Dr. Westrick is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston, MA. While an active duty Army Physical Therapist, Rich served in multiple assignments, including several years as the physical therapist for 10th Special Forces Group and combat deployments in support of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Arabian Peninsula.

Dr. Westrick is the founder and current chair of the Sports Section of the American Physical Therapy Association’s Tactical & Combat Athlete Special Interest Group supporting physical therapy for military, police, and firefighters, in addition to combat athletes (martial arts, wrestling, boxing).

Injury Prevention Specialist

Kent Bultemeier

Kent Bultemeier is an O2X Injury Prevention Specialist. Kent is a certified athletic trainer who has a history of working with tactical, college, and professional athletes. Kent has furthered his education through National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), as a corrective exercise specialist and performance enhancement specialist.

Kent graduated from Purdue University in 2009, with a degree in Athletic Training. During the summers, Kent completed professional football internships with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Philadelphia Eagles. Following Kent’s undergraduate work, he accepted a graduate assistant position at Iowa State University. While studying for his Master of Education, Kent worked as the wrestling and golf athletic trainer. Outside of coursework, Kent would provide preventative, emergency, and rehabilitative medicine to the wrestling and golf programs. The opportunity for Kent to further his academic and clinical education while working and traveling directly with a sports team was a great building block.

After graduate school, Kent accepted an athletic training position at the United States Military Academy, working with West Point’s wrestling and men’s soccer programs. While in New York, Kent also assisted the Army’s medical staff with football and baseball coverage. In 2011, Kent left West Point and moved to Tucson where he pursued a full time football opportunity at the University of Arizona. While at Arizona, Kent implemented movement screens and injury prevention into rehabilitation.

In 2016, Kent moved to Centennial, CO to work with tactical athletes. He joined the wellness department at South Metro Fire Rescue located just outside of Denver, Colorado. At South Metro, he is responsible for the rehabilitation and treatment of injuries that occur both online and offline. He is also working to improve current injury prevention tactics already implemented by the department.

In his free time, Kent enjoys spending time with his wife, KellyAnne, and his two dogs, Drew and Harry. Being new to Colorado, he is looking forward to taking on new outdoor adventures.

Injury Prevention Specialist

Antigone Vesci

Antigone Vesci is an O2X Injury Prevention Specialist currently working as the Director of Performance Therapy at The Edge in Glenview, IL. Prior to joining The Edge team, she worked as an Athletic Trainer & Physical Therapist at Illinois Bone & Joint Institute for nearly 3 years, where in addition to patient care she actively consulted, mentored, and taught. Antigone received her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training in 2012, and her Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2014 from Boston University College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College. She then completed the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Fellowship in Orthopedic Manual Therapy in 2017. Antigone is a member of both the National Athletic Training Association (NATA), American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), and American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Therapists (AAOMPT). Antigone is also a certified health care provider for World Rugby.

Antigone has worked across the country from Boston to L.A with all levels of human performance, from a spinal cord injured veteran to professional athletes. She is dedicated to providing evidence-based and patient-centered care to all age groups and demographics, but finds working with tactical athletes, the aging athlete, and patients in chronic pain the most professionally rewarding. She has been with O2X since 2015. In her free time, Antigone likes to paint, sing and play music, and volunteer as a medical health professional. Antigone has volunteered for the Boston Marathon and many other local and national sporting events since 2010. Antigone currently resides in Glenview with her husband, Brian and their daughter Meli.

Injury Prevention Specialist

Jason Mitchler

Dr. Jason Mitchler is an O2X Injury Prevention Specialist who is an active duty physical therapist currently serving at Fort Carson, CO.  Jason has served the majority of his 19 year Army career in operational units.  His enlisted career began as an infantryman and later as a Special Forces Medic with the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) while completing two tours to Afghanistan.  After being commissioned as a physical therapist, he was the lead during the implementation of the USASOC THOR3 program at the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne).  During this time he oversaw the development of a comprehensive performance and rehabilitation program at Ft. Carson, CO.  Following this assignment he was selected to be the Chief of Physical Therapy at the Pentagon.  His most recent deployment was as the sole physical therapist for the Special Operations Task Force- Afghanistan (SOTF-A) serving both American and coalition forces.  

He is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado with a BA in Kinesiology and the Army-Baylor program with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy.  He is an Orthopaedic Certified Specialist (OCS) and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS).  

Jason lives in Colorado Springs, CO with his wife Erin and their two children.  He is an assistant high school wrestling coach and holds a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  In his free time he is an active cyclist, runner, and skier. 

Injury Prevention Specialist

Becky McClelland

Becky McClelland is an O2X Injury Prevention Specialist who received her B.A. in Athletic Training from Messiah College in 2003, M.S. in Kinesiology from University of Kentucky in 2006, and her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from the MGH Institute of Health Professions in 2017. She has been a Certified Athletic Trainer and CSCS since 2003, and a Certified Physician Assistant since 2017.

Following her degree at the University of Kentucky and work at Monmouth University in NJ, Becky accepted a position at Boston University where she stayed for 6 years. While there, she worked as an athletic trainer with varsity and club sports teams as well as the on-campus ROTC, including all military branches. As a faculty member she taught in the undergraduate athletic training and doctorate of physical therapy programs.

Throughout her career she did multiple original research projects, becoming an expert in shoulder and scapular kinematics, kinetics, injury prevention and rehabilitation. Since becoming a Certified Physician Assistant, she has been working in Cardiac Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. There, Becky is involved in surgery as well as coordinating the medical care of patients after surgery, ensuring they are prepared to live healthy lifestyles when they are discharged home. She also has a faculty appointment at the MGH Institute of Health Professions where she teaches in the PA program.

Becky is an avid runner and enjoys races of all sizes. She has volunteered at athletic events throughout the country, including the finish line of the Boston Marathon since 2003. In her free time, she enjoys being active with friends, cooking, and spending time with her multiple nieces and nephews.

Injury Prevention Specialist

Mike Donato

Dr. Mike Donato is an O2X Foot and Ankle Specialist who is an owner/podiatrist at Rappahannock Foot & Ankle Specialists in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He is board certified in Forefoot, and Reconstructive Rearfoot and Ankle Surgery from the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. He is a fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and has served as a spokesperson and as a past chairman of the managerial board for Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery. He is a member of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine. He has been named among Northern Virginia Magazine’s Top Doctors for 2015, 2016 and 2017. 

Mike grew up in Boston and graduated from Catholic Memorial High School in West Roxbury prior to attending Princeton University where he played baseball and hockey. He is a graduate of the California College of Podiatric Medicine, San Francisco, California and did his residency at the Yale New Haven Hospital-VA Connecticut Healthcare System. He has a passion for sports and brings his expertise of foot and ankle mechanics and proper shoe wear utilized for various athletic/tactical activities. 

He is a regular medical volunteer at the Marine Corps Marathon and the other associated Marine Corps Marathon Race Events. He is a USA Hockey level 4 hockey coach and after years of being a head coach he currently serves as an assistant coach for the Piedmont Predator Youth Hockey Club. He is an avid crossfitter and hockey player who participates in masters crossfit competitions and adult hockey tournaments.

Injury Prevention Specialist

Jay Sedory

Jay Sedory is an O2X Injury Prevention Specialist. Jay is also a licensed athletic trainer for the United State Marine Corps where he oversees injury prevention for martial arts, water survival, and fitness programs.  Jay has been an athletic trainer for over 16 years with over 13 years of those years in the military setting.  He is a plank holder for the Marine Corps Force Fitness Instructor Program. 

Jay is also a trained Tactical Medic with over 10 years of emergency management experience within the military and civilian setting.  Most notably, Jay is a deployable asset for Health and Human Services under the Division of Partner Readiness and Emergency Programs (PREP).  He is a graduate and instructor for tactical medics under the premier federally recognized program: Counter Narcotics and Terrorism Operational Medical Support (CONTOMS).  As a part of this elite cadre of medical professionals, Jay is the lead instructor in sports medicine and human performance topics.  Additionally, he has worked with several federal, state, and local agencies in tactical medicine operations.

Jay holds a number of additional certifications in strength and conditioning: USA Weightlifting, Corrective Exercise Specialist, Tactical Strength and Conditioning, and Functional Movement Screening. While he excels within the Marine Corps, he is also an adjunct professor for George Mason University.  Starting in 2014, Jay has been a regular contributor to the Athletic Training Education Program.  

Prior to his position with the Marine Corps, he served as the head athletic trainer for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration.  At this position he implemented a number of injury prevention programs related to heat illness, concussion, musculoskeletal injuries, and sports preparedness.  He is also an accomplished professional within the profession of athletic training on national, district, and state levels. Jay is a former President of the Virginia Athletic Trainers’ Association where he oversaw state operations that included paid and volunteer staff, 16 committees, a budget exceeding 500k, and a membership of over 3,000 athletic trainers.  He is the recipient of the Virginia Emerging Practice Setting Athletic Trainer of the Year Award in 2012.

Injury Prevention Specialist

Steve Fell

Steve Fell is an O2X Injury Prevention Specialist. Steve is a former college and professional soccer player, who developed a passion for the systematic approach to physical preparation through his own desire to optimize performance while minimizing injury risk.  Steve holds a Bachelors in Exercise Science, a Doctorate in Physical Therapy, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Health and Human Performance. Additionally, Steve is a Board-Certified Sports Physical Therapist (DPT-SCS) through the American Physical Therapy Association and Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA-CSCS). 

Steve has served as a rehabilitation and performance Practitioner in many settings including the Human Performance Advisor for Special Operations Command South, Director of Sports Performance for Phoenix Rising Football Club of the United Soccer League, Assistant Performance /End-Stage Rehabilitation Coach for Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer, and Director of Sports Performance for Flagler College.  Currently, Steve is the owner of Performance Science and Rehab where he uses a data informed approach to assist high-performing individuals return-to-performance following injury. 

Injury Prevention Specialist

Kyle Feldman

Dr. Kyle Feldman is an O2X Injury Prevention Specialist. He is the National Director of Revision Physical Therapy where he has grown and managed the company to 15+ locations in VA, FL, MD, and NC. His clinical expertise spans athletic performance, spinal conditions, and complex cases involving chronic pain management. 

Dr. Feldman earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy from Shenandoah University in 2014, where he also distinguished himself as an Academic All-American wide receiver for the university’s football team. He continued his professional development through a rigorous residency in orthopedic manual therapy with the Virginia Orthopedic Manual Therapy Institute (VOMPTI) and completed his fellowship in Orthopedic Manual Therapy (FAAOMPT) at the University of Illinois at Chicago, focusing on chronic pain and advanced manual therapy techniques.

As a dedicated mentor, Dr. Feldman has trained physical therapists globally, with teaching stints in Kenya, Ghana, Nicaragua, Ecuador, and Haiti. In addition to his clinical work, he holds teaching roles at Shenandoah University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program and is a faculty member in the VOMPTI Orthopedic Residency program.

Kyle resides in Winchester, VA, with his wife Olivia, two daughters, and their family dog.

Injury Prevention Specialist

Michael Reinhardt

Michael Reinhardt is an O2X Injury Prevention Specialist. Born and raised in Rochester, New York, Mike was involved in an array of sports while growing up – football, crew, and competitive tournament paintball – which budded his passion for strength sports and performance training. Mike earned his B.S in Exercise Science and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University at Buffalo.

Mike is a presenter and content creator for R2P Academy, a clinician-directed continuing education company that seeks to bridge the gap along the rehab to performance continuum. Through a wide variety of coaching and clinical experiences, he has worked alongside an assortment of highly talented performance-minded health professionals.  With over 10 years of strength and conditioning experience, Mike has worked with diverse populations of athletes and active individuals from both rehabilitation and performance perspectives. He has been fortunate to work with team sport athletes, firefighters, police officers, SWAT members, retired military, CrossFit, powerlifting, and weightlifting athletes. Mike has competed in Olympic Style weightlifting for the last eight years and remains heavily involved in numerous weightlifting and strength sport communities. He enjoys the beautiful complexity of the sport of weightlifting – a perfect blend of speed, strength, power, mobility, and coordination required to perform the snatch and clean and jerk at maximal potential.

Mike has an intense passion for integrating strength and conditioning principles along with the intricacies of human performance and rehabilitation to help realize an individual’s true potential. He enjoys the art of blending the complexities of human movement into a progressive plan geared towards building resiliency and maximizing an individual’s physical and mental capabilities.

Injury Prevention Specialist

Vickie Dills

Vickie Dills is an O2X Injury Prevention Specialist. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Northeastern University in 1999 and later completed her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Simmons College. Vickie embraces the concept of evidence-based rehabilitation. In treating physical therapy patients, she draws upon current research to incorporate scientifically validated methods into her daily practice. In March 2016, she co-authored an article titled “Return to Play Following Sports Hernia Surgery”, which was published in “Clinics in Sports Medicine”.

Vickie is also a licensed private pilot and a certified SCUBA diver. Prior to pursuing a career in Physical Therapy, she worked in a trauma center operating room under the direction of the anesthesia department. Vickie served as an active duty Hospital Corpsman in the U.S. Navy. She holds numerous certifications, including Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS), Certified HawkGrips Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) Specialist, Certified ImPACT Trained Physical Therapist (ITPT), Certified Strength and Agility Coach (CSAC), Dry Needling for Orthopedic Rehabilitation and Sport Performance, and Training for Warriors Instructor Certified, among others.

Injury Prevention Specialist

Ian Manning

Ian Manning is an O2X specialist who graduated from Northeastern University in 2003 with his Bachelors in Allied Health Sciences and in 2004 with his Masters in Physical Therapy. He specializes in Orthopedic injuries and in Injury prevention for all demographics and occupations. In 2008, he continued on his education path with the Titleist Performance Institute and now specializes in helping golfers improve their performance and also prevent injuries. Ian is a dry needling specialist and has been utilizing the technique since 2010. He now helps educate other health care practitioners on incorporating the treatment into their therapeutic interventions.

Ian opened his own private practice in 2012 and grew the business over the next 10 years. In 2022, he merged with Performance Physical Therapy and now continues to focus on business development and implementing their growth strategy. When he isn’t treating in the clinical setting he travels to treat professional athletes and provide concierge medicine.

INJURY PREVENTION SPECIALIST

Jessica Visintainer

Jessica is an O2X Injury Prevention Specialist earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2009 from Temple University after completing her B.S. in Exercise Science in 2006. During the early years Dr. Visintainer traveled throughout the United States of America building a diverse skill set with focus on sports and orthopedic injury and prevention. She has earned specialty certifications in various areas to provide quality care to endurance and martial arts athletes.
Jessica is a certified Mulligan Practitioner and certified Dry Needling Clinician in addition to being certified in Vestibular assessment and rehabilitation. Jessica owns a sports concierge practice specializing in the injury prevention and rehabilitation of the endurance and MMA athlete. As a seasoned triathlete (including long course), Krav Maga instructor and student of Brazilian Jiu jitsu she is poised to not only treat injuries in the athletic population but also understands the demands placed on the human body with elite and tactical athletes. When Jessica is not running her sports practice or preparing for an upcoming race, she enjoys all things in nature especially when in or on the water as an open water swimmer and kayaker. Most recently she has entered into the world of adventure racing which has married both her love of multisport and the wilderness.

INJURY PREVENTION SPECIALIST

Tiffany Sheffield

Tiffany Sheffield is an O2X injury prevention specialist. Tiffany graduated from Bellarmine University in Louisville, KY., with her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2019. She holds a Masters in Healthcare Administration and a Bachelor’s in Exercise Sports Science. She has worked with various populations to include but not limited to veterans, active duty, firefighters, horse trainers, equestrians, paramedics and pro-athletes. Her primary focus has been in the outpatient setting where she has effectively treated conditions including orthopedic injuries, neurological disorders, vestibular dysfunction, post-concussion syndrome, post/pre-operative, and pelvic floor dysfunction. Tiffany provides a holistic and comprehensive approach to achieve maximum recovery and performance to minimize long term pain and impairments. She believes in treating the patient as a whole and is passionate about providing an individualized plan of care. The military is near and dear to her heart. Her father served in the United States Army, her brother served in the United States Marine Corps, and her husband served in the United States Navy.

Injury Prevention Specialist

Brandon Paulus

Dr. Brandon Paulus is an O2X Injury Prevention Specialist. He earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Radford University. He is board certified in orthopaedics, a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists, and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. He holds certifications in dry needling, spinal manipulation technique, and blood flow restriction training. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Science degree in Physical Therapy through Andrews University. Dr. Paulus is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va. He enjoys treating individuals with a holistic approach, focusing on aspects of injury prevention and reduction, pain management, athletic performance. He has spent the last 7 years working with college and professional athletes, special operations forces, law enforcement/first responders, and CrossFit athletes.

Injury Prevention Specialist

Alexa Bannerman

Alexa Bannerman is an injury prevention specialist with O2X with 14 years of progressive sports medicine experience as a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC). She received her Bachelor’s of Science in Athletic Training from the University of Central Florida, and a Master’s in Science in Sport Fitness Management from Troy University. Alexa is currently working as a contracted ATC with Naval Special Warfare in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Prior to transitioning to the tactical athlete, Alexa spent most her career in Division I athletics. Alexa possesses a strong clinical skills, with specialty in myofascial therapies, Functional Dry Needling, post-operative rehab, and innovative return to duty rehabilitation. Born and raised in Michigan, Alexa is a Midwest girl at heart. She is an intrinsically motivated lifelong learner who loves working with like-minded individuals. In her free time, Alexa enjoys weight lifting, eating, outdoor activities, and spending time with her husband and their three crazy kids!

Sleep Specialist

Jaime Tartar

Jaime Lee Tartar is an O2X Sleep & Fatigue Management Specialist. Dr. Tartar is a Professor of Neuroscience at Nova Southeastern University (NSU). She serves as the neuroscience program director and research director for the NSU College of Psychology. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from NSU and a Master of Arts degree in Psychology from Florida Atlantic University where she used EEG measure to detect subclinical neurological impairments.

She earned her Ph.D. in the Behavioral Neuroscience program at the University of Florida where the focus of her research involved discovering long-term changes that occur in neurobiological pathways involved in stress responses and developing animal models of stress. During graduate school Dr. Tartar also served for 6 years in the U.S. Army Reserves. Dr. Tartar completed Postdoctoral Training at Harvard Medical School where she studied neurological consequences of sleep perturbations using in vitro electrophysiological recording techniques. She also received training in Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

In her professional career Dr. Tartar was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from NSU based on her work and contributions to NSU and the scientific community. She was also the NSU Professor of the year at NSU in 2018 and received the NSU Excellence in Teaching Award in 2009. Dr. Tartar has received multiple funding grants through the Department of Education and has received research funding from the Department of Defense.

She has published over 55 original research articles and has written several book chapters. Her publications include work with professional MMA fighters and NFL players. She has been an invited speaker for multiple organizations and universities. For example, she was a TEDx Presenter, the keynote speaker for the Miami Dade College Research Symposium, and gave the commencement speech at NSU in 2021.

Based on her expertise, she consults for multiple prestigious organizations and served on the scientific advisory board for the National Academy of Sports Medicine and regularly serves as a peer review panelist for NASA. Dr. Tartar is also a scientific advisor for Enchanted Wave, LLC where she oversees their research in using single channel EEG. She is the co-founder and President of The Society for NeuroSports — an academic organization for the field of Sports Neuroscience. Dr. Tartar’s current research is focused on stress, sleep, and athletic performance in humans.

Sleep Specialist

Deirdre Conroy

Dr. Conroy is an O2X Sleep Specialist. Dr. Conroy is a Clinical Professor at
Michigan Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry. She attended college at Simmons
College in Boston, MA where she majored in Biopsychology. After college, she
completed a Kleitman Fellowship in Human Circadian Biology at Brigham and Women’s
Hospital in Boston. She went on to study psychology and sleep disorders medicine while
getting her PhD at The City University of New York. After graduating with her doctorate,
she left the east coast for Ann Arbor, Michigan to obtain post-doctoral training at the
University of Michigan department of psychiatry. There, she studied the relationship
between insomnia and alcohol dependence. She transitioned to the clinical faculty at
Michigan in 2007 where she has been working with patients, educating medical
residents and fellows, and directing the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program. Dr. Conroy
is a diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine, a diplomate of the Board of
Behavioral Sleep Medicine, and is board certified in cognitive behavioral therapy by the
American Board of Professional Psychology. In addition to her passion for improving sleep, Dr. Conroy has a long standing interest in health and wellness. In 2015, she received certification in health coaching by the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and established a health coaching business, Happy, Healthy, Rested, PLLC. In her free time, you can find her engaging in outdoor activities and traveling.

Sleep Specialist

Meagan Rizzo

Dr. Meagan Rizzo is an O2X Sleep Specialist. She retired from the Army after 24 years of service in Army Medicine.  She earned her medical degree from Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, MD in 2003. Dr. Rizzo is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Sleep Medicine. As an Army Colonel and mother of four, she is intimately familiar with sleep deprivation and its impact on human performance.   Prior to retirement, Dr. Rizzo was the Chief of the Sleep Disorder Center at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where she served active duty, retirees and dependents of all ages. She had a special focus on the special operations community, shift workers and military senior leaders. Dr. Rizzo served in both the deployed environment and in CONUS locations. She deployed to Kirkuk, Iraq in 2011 with the 101st Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Infantry Division. She also served in the prestigious role as a Specialty Consultant to the White House Medical Unit while at WRNMMC, where she was the sole provider for senior government leaders. Dr. Rizzo is the daughter of a retired Army officer and wife of an active-duty Special Forces officer. Her practice is shaped by the holistic experience of not only being a service member, but also a spouse, and former “Army brat”. Dr. Rizzo has always been committed to fitness. She was a starter on her Division I soccer team in college, and the captain and leading scorer for her medical school Rugby team. In her free time, you can find her in the pool, on a bike, or on the run. She has completed two half-ironman races and countless other triathlons.

Sleep Specialist

Tina Burke

Dr. Tina M. Burke is an 02X Human Performance Sleep Specialist. She specializes in providing skills for sleeping better and techniques on how to increase your performance when working round the clock shifts or working with sleep loss.

Dr. Burke earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Kent State University in Kent, OH. She then earned a Master’s of Science in Integrative Physiology from the University of Colorado – Boulder, followed by a dual Ph.D. in Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience from the University of Colorado – Boulder. Her research aims at developing our understanding of mechanisms by which photic (light) and non-photic stimuli (e.g., exogenous melatonin, caffeine) can be used as countermeasures to improve sleep, alertness, performance, and overall health.

Currently, Dr. Burke is the Sleep Research Team Chief at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and provides oversight for the Sleep Research Center and Operational Research Team. Dr. Burke is a professional member of the Sleep Research Society, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Society for Biological Rhythms, and the Society for Neuroscience. Dr. Burke has had the pleasure of the support and companionship of her husband for the past 10 years. As a professional road cyclist, he was one of her first clients that she was able to instill the importance of sleep and circadian alignment on performance.

Sleep Specialist

Kelly Bennion

Dr. Kelly Bennion is an O2X Sleep Specialist. Dr. Bennion received her Ph.D. in Psychology with a concentration in Cognitive Neuroscience from Boston College, and is an Assistant Professor of Neuroscience and Biopsychology at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA. Her research uses a combination of behavioral, eye tracking, polysomnography (overnight sleep monitoring), and neuroimaging (e.g., fMRI) approaches to understand the effects of sleep and stress on memory for negative and traumatic experiences. She has published several peer-reviewed articles on sleep and emotional memory consolidation, including showing that those with higher stress levels at the time of a negative experience have better subsequent memory for that negative information, but only following a period of sleep. As Dr. Bennion’s research has important implications for understanding PTSD and other clinical and affective disorders, she has received grants supporting her research from sources including the US Department of Defense, National Science Foundation, American Psychological Association, and Psi Chi. She has also spent time at the Duke- National University of Singapore Medical School as a visiting scholar, researching the effects of sleep restriction on adolescent cognition. 

Dr. Bennion has been passionate about teaching and education for as long as she can remember, and has an Ed.M. in Mind, Brain, and Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Her commitment to teaching has been acknowledged by her receipt of the Professor of the Year Award (College of Liberal Arts, Cal Poly), the Teaching Excellence in Psychological Science Award (American Psychological Association), as well as the Donald J. White Teaching Excellence Award (Boston College). Dr. Bennion is also passionate about mentorship and outreach. She has founded three mentorship programs for psychology and neuroscience students at Boston College and Cal Poly, coordinated neuroscience outreach events throughout the greater Boston area for children, college students, and older adults, and has organized several events promoting Women in Science. 

Dr. Bennion feels strongly that one should value health, fitness, and work-life balance, and she has accomplished this largely through fostering her love for dancing. Dr. Bennion has been an avid dancer since age 7, and danced professionally in the Boston area from 2010 to 2016. She was a member of the Adagio Big Band Jazz Company, the Boston Cannons Dance Team, and was a New England Patriots Cheerleader – ending her tenure as an NFL cheerleader with the Patriots’ Super Bowl XLIX victory in her home state of AZ in 2015. Dr. Bennion’s scientific commitment to researching the importance of sleep on cognition and emotional well being, and her personal commitment to maintaining a healthy, physically active lifestyle makes working with O2X a perfect fit. 

Sleep Specialist

Samantha Riedy

Dr. Samantha Riedy is an O2X Sleep Specialist with expertise on the effects of sleep loss, shift work, and circadian misalignment on performance in operational settings. Over the past eight years, she has conducted operational research with police officers, cargo pilots, nurses, ultramarathoners, and workers in other operations, as well as in-laboratory research with shift work and sleep deprivation protocols.

Samantha earned her master’s degree and PhD in Experimental Psychology with an emphasis in Statistics from Washington State University in Spokane, Washington. Samantha completed an internship during her master’s studies in the 711th Human Performance Wing, the Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. During her doctoral research, Samantha examined and modeled how sleep loss, shift work, and fatigue impact police performance and police-community relationships.

Samantha is also a Registered Polysomnographic Technician, with experience running clinical diagnostic and titration sleep studies and scoring polysomnographic records for research laboratories. Samantha is a member of the Sleep Research Society, Australasian Sleep Association, Working Time Society, and European Sleep Research Society. She has published her research in top journals, presented her research at government institutes, universities, and companies around-the-world, and her research has been picked up by a number of policing magazines.

Sleep Specialist

Allison Brager

Dr. Allison Brager is an O2X Sleep Specialist and a Major in the U.S.Army. She is also an elite CrossFit athlete competing for the Army. Allison sits on fatigue management working groups for the federal government, Special Forces, and NATO. Previously, at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research; she and her teammates leveraged groundbreaking sleep discoveries to deliver knowledge products and material solutions to the Army. Her discoveries have most recently been delivered during Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Gotham. She has over 40 publications in flagship biomedical journals.

Allison holds an Sc.B. from Brown University and a Ph.D. from Kent State University. Her popular science book, Meathead: Unraveling the Athletic Brain, debunks the myth of “the dumb jock” and chronicles her time as a two-time CrossFit Games team athlete and two-time Regionals athlete. She was also a four-year varsity Division I collegiate track & field athlete. Allison still competes as a Master’s athlete in world championships in track & field and CrossFit. She believes the key to success in life is planning your career around your lifestyle not your lifestyle around your career.

Sleep Specialist

Karrie Fitzpatrick

Dr. Karrie Fitzpatrick is an O2X Sleep Performance Specialist. Dr. Fitzpatrick earned her Ph.D. in neuroscience from Northwestern University and her B.S. in psychology from The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She is currently a staff scientist and government contractor in the Biological Technologies Office at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), where she supports programs aimed at developing breakthrough technologies and capabilities for national security, incorporating the unique features of biology. Her research has spanned a wide range of topics that affect brain functions including sleep, circadian rhythms, mental health, resilience, genetics, hormones, and gut microbiota.
Dr. Fitzpatrick is passionate about community outreach and mentorship, and has long been an advocate for presenting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) topics in more engaging and relevant ways to better foster interest among kids and adults alike. She has given several interactive demonstrations and presentations at public schools and community colleges across Chicagoland, and has mentored several students at various stages throughout her career. Dr. Fitzpatrick firmly believes that getting good quality sleep is essential to maximizing performance, because sleep affects everything and everything affects sleep! 

Sleep Specialist

Ashlee McKeon

Ashlee McKeon is an O2X Sleep Specialist. Ashlee has over 14 years of experience assessing and probing sleep disruption in both military and veteran groups. She is an active duty U.S. Army officer who currently serves as the Chief of Research for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) at Ft. Bragg, NC. Her team’s mission is to support the development and validation of research/program evaluation initiatives across the Special Operations community. This includes the development and evaluation of Assessment & Selection programs for elite military units as well as Command- and Unit-level programs/initiatives aimed at enhancing force readiness through targeted assessment of knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to succeed in highly demanding and specialized military careers. 

  Previously, Ashlee was assigned to the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) Center for Military Psychiatry and Neurosciences where she served as Chief of the Operational Research Team for 3 years. Her team developed, tested, and validated field-ready capabilities to determine the impact of disrupted sleep and circadian misalignment on the physical, cognitive, and emotional readiness of conventional and elite military units during training operations and in far-forward deployed environments. Much of her work was also dedicated to educating military units, small team leaders, and senior leaders on how to maximize shortened or shifted sleep opportunities in the operational environment to support mission success and reduce risk associated with sleep loss. Ashlee also has a special interest in examining the role of sleep and circadian rhythmicity as risk factors for posttraumatic stress and head injury in combat-exposed service members. 

  Ashlee holds a Bachelor of Philosophy in Honors Psychology, with minors in both Applied Statistics and Sociology, from the University of Pittsburgh (2010). She also earned her Master of Science in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, with a certificate in Rehabilitative Assistive Technology, from the University of Pittsburgh in 2013, and then continued her training to earn her Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Pittsburgh in 2016. Ashlee then completed postdoctoral training in Translational Sleep Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine before transferring her research program to the military in 2017. Ashlee commissioned as an officer into the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps as a Research Psychologist, or 71F, in 2018. 

Personally, Ashlee is an avid Crossfitter and trainer/coach. She also enjoys hiking, kayaking, fishing, and being outdoors with her two corgis, Bolt and Bandit. She loves to travel and strives to experience several new locations, domestic and international, each year. 

Sleep Specialist

Ana Fins

Ana Fins, PhD, ABPP is an O2X Sleep and Resilience Specialist and a Professor in the Department of Clinical and School Psychology at Nova Southeastern University (NSU). She completed her graduate training in Clinical Health Psychology at the University of Miami where her dissertation focused on examining the relationship between psychological coping and immune function in individuals with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Subsequently she completed post-doctoral training in behavioral sleep medicine at the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Dr. Fins has been training students in health psychology and behavioral sleep medicine for over two decades. At NSU she teaches doctoral-level graduate students in the clinical psychology program.  She also supervises doctoral students providing treatment to individuals with insomnia and to individuals coping with serious and life threatening medical conditions. She recently co-authored a book on insomnia treatment and has co-authored various articles and book chapters, many examining the relationship between sleep and health.

Sleep Specialist

Zlatan Krizan

Zlatan Krizan, Ph.D. is a Sleep and Fatigue Management Specialist for O2X. He serves as Professor of Psychology at Iowa State University where he directs the Sleep, Self, and Personality Laboratory. He also leads IntelAwake, focusing on fatigue management within high-steaks interpersonal settings. Dr. Krizan’s scholarship examines the role of sleep in social behavior and performance. Having published over 50 peer-reviewed articles as well as contributed to a number of books, he is a recognized expert on sleep and interpersonal processes cited over 4,000 times. His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He is a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science and currently serves as Editor for scientific journals SLEEP Advances and Journal of Research in Personality. His ongoing work examines the dynamic interplay between sleep, emotions, and motivation, especially as applied to investigative interviewing and high-steaks social interactions. He has collaborated with the Department of Defense, Department of Justice, and a number of local agencies, contributing a voice on the importance of sleep and fatigue in human performance.

Sleep Specialist

Kent Werner

CDR J. Kent Werner, Jr., MD PhD, is an O2X Sleep & Fatigue Management Specialist. Outside of O2X, CDR Werner is an active-duty Navy neurologist and neuroscientist who serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology and in the Neuroscience Graduate Program in Bethesda, MD. In his clinics at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) and in the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE), he specializes in sleep disorders associated with high-performance warfighters and in traumatic brain injury (TBI). He also serves as the Director of Research of the WRNMMC Sleep Disorders Center. His research focuses on the impact of TBI on sleep physiology and cognitive performance. 

After graduating from the US Naval Academy, he deployed as a Surface Warfare Officer onboard the USS MAHAN (DDG-72), earning his Surface Warfare qualification. Upon entering the Medical Corps, he completed his MD, a PhD in cellular and molecular neuroscience, and a neurology residency at Johns Hopkins University, where he serves currently as Adjunct Faculty. He enjoys distance running, and has competed in over 30 marathons, including 9 Boston Marathons.

Sleep Specialist

Rebecca Acabchuk

Dr. Becky Acabchuk is an O2X Sleep Specialist who works as a neuroscientist and wellbeing expert at the Mindfulness Center at Brown University, researching the mental and physical benefits of mind-body practices to promote sleep, manage emotions, and improve overall wellbeing. She leads retreats and workshops for various audiences and has created programs for Division I football and hockey teams, firefighters, elite endurance athletes, and others. Becky was a Division I gymnast at Cornell University, where she received a BA in psychology. She earned her PhD in physiology and neurobiology from the University of Connecticut and has taught university courses in Health Psychology, Science of Mindfulness, Anatomy & Physiology, and more. She conducted a clinical trial using EEG neurofeedback and meditation to improve sleep and reduce stress and anxiety. She has published several notable meta-analyses on topics including yoga for hypertension and yoga and meditation for concussion recovery. She is a member of the NIH’s behavior change consortium, researching what helps people create healthy habits and stick to them. Becky has taught yoga, meditation, breathwork, and yoga nidra since 2003. She is certified in Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) and Sports Yoga by NESTA and has participated in ongoing yoga and meditation training with world-renowned teachers. Becky completed training on trauma-sensitive practices, iRest, and yoga nidra and was mentored by a leading researcher conducting studies on yoga nidra for PTSD in veteran populations.

Becky has extensive knowledge of various mind-body protocols, which she uses to create unique and customized programs. Becky is passionate about wellbeing and loves inspiring others with the science behind the practices. She recently spent time teaching neuroscience to Tibetan monks in India, where she learned surprising insights from their methods of sharpening the mind. Becky has competed in marathons and triathlons and loves skiing, hiking, CrossFit, and doing anything outdoors. Becky was introduced to O2X by her partner, a firefighter who attended an O2X program.

Mental Performance Specialist

Neva Barno

Neva Barno, CMPC (Certified Mental Performance Consultant), is an O2X Mental Performance Specialist whose expertise is in providing mental skills training for optimal performance in various environments and situations. She was a two-sport athlete who first pursued her education in injury rehabilitation after having her own sport injury. She received her B.S. in Exercise and Sport Science from Oregon State University. At the end of her program, she decided to take the jump from the physical side to the mental side after taking her first sport psychology class and realizing it was her own mindset that prevented her from fully recovering in her sport. As she pursued her M.S. in Sport and Performance Psychology at the University of Western States, she met her now husband who was active-duty military and training for a special operations pipeline. She was instantly inspired by the dedication, athleticism, and heroism that she saw within the community, and dedicated the rest of her studies to the military. She graduated with a second M.S. and a Doctoral degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, emphasizing Sport and Performance Psychology in 2021. Neva admits that her own personal experience with trauma has motivated her even more to help the military, first responders, and all individuals who might experience trauma. “I know these techniques work because I had to personally put them to the test. My education saved my well-being.”

Neva’s professional experiences include working with collegiate sports, high school athletics, recreational sport, executives, military and first responders, and individuals in clinical settings. She hopes to provide her clients with tools to aid in self-regulation, goal attainment, overcoming setbacks, managing stressful events, and helping them reach a new level of performance. Neva’s motto is, “Performance in life is never finished. We should never give up on ourselves. We should never be done. Let us not be finished. Let us Be Unfinished.”

Mental Performance Specialist

Ashley Ripke

Ashely Ripke is an O2X Mental Performance Specialist. Ashley has a passion for helping others. She primarily applies her knowledge and expertise in Sport and Performance Psychology to the military. The past 7 years she has trained and supported thousands of soldiers (Big Army and Special Forces) on psychological skills that enhance resilience and performance in garrison and theatre. Her career began with the Ready and Resilient (R2) Program and is currently the Cognitive Performance Specialist with 3rd Special Forces Group. The role psychological and physiological factors play in high risk occupations, generates a need for quality Mental Performance Training. Recognized for her excellent service and support to various Army units, Ashley mentors others who will support in a similar capacity. After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Indiana Tech, Ashley pursued her Master’s in Sport and Performance Psychology from the University of Denver. Outside of working with the military, Ashley coaches young athletes in the Southern Pines area on mental skills and techniques to achieve higher levels of performance more consistently.

Mental Performance Specialist

Stephanie Zavilla

Stephanie Zavilla is an O2X Mental Performance Specialist. She has served as the Director of Sports Performance at the Winter Park Competition Center for 7 years, supervising Strength and Conditioning, Sport Psychology, Injury Management, Sports Nutrition, and Return-to-Sport Programming. After earning a double major in Psychology and History with a minor in Coaching from the University of South Dakota, while playing four years with the school’s NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Team, she went on to receive her Masters in Sport and Performance Psychology from the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Professional Psychology in 2013. Currently, she is an adjunct faculty at her alma mater.

Stephanie has worked as a consultant for a myriad of sports and organizations on both a group and individual basis. She has experience in football, baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey, exercise endurance, lacrosse, figure skating, tennis, skiing, snowboarding, Paralympic skiing, and gymnastics, working with athletes ranging from those who are just beginning their recreational sport careers to those who are competing at the international, professional, or Olympic level. She has served as the sport psychology consultant for an NFL Combine Preparation Camp for several years. A certified consultant for the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, Stephanie has spoken at several regional and national conferences on her work in heart rate variability biofeedback, and has authored several peer reviewed articles, featuring her research in the parent-athlete relationship. Most recently she has co-authored a graduate-level textbook chapter on the psychophysiology of self-regulation.

Stephanie’s philosophy revolves around the idea that simply by being aware, being present, and being in love with what you do, freedom will follow; freedom from judgmental thoughts, freedom from the constraints of internal and external pressures, resulting in freedom of movement, and the opportunity to step beyond perceived limits.

Outside of working with parents, athletes, and coaches, Stephanie finds happiness in hiking, camping, white water kayaking, Paul Simon, and skiing as many months in a row as possible (80 and counting!).

Mental Performance Specialist

Christine Sanchez

Dr. Christine Sanchez is an O2X Mental Performance Specialist with expertise in mental and cognitive skills training for achieving optimal performance in high pressure scenarios. She has over 14 years of experience working with athletes and other elite performers who desire to unlock their true potential.

Dr. Sanchez is best known for her work targeting mindfully performing under pressure, maintaining situation-awareness, and rebounding quickly from performance errors. She routinely integrates biofeedback technology for facilitating optimal psycho-physiological regulation of performance states. Mental skills training programs consist of group workshops and individual consultations focusing on rapid skill acquisition, performance enhancement, and performance recovery. Over the years she has had the opportunity to consult domestically and internationally with junior elite and collegiate athletes, first responders, and military personnel.

Dr. Sanchez received her B.S. in Ocean Engineering from Virginia Tech, M.Ed. in Kinesiology (Exercise & Sport Psychology specialization) from Temple University, and Ph.D. in Educational Psychology (specialization in Sport & Performance Psychology) from Florida State University. She is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. In addition, she is a member of the Association of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback and is Board Certified in Biofeedback (BCB) through the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA). Dr. Sanchez completed her 200 hour Registered Yoga Instructor (RYT-200) training and routinely integrates yoga and mindfulness into her mental skills training plans for recovery.

While swimming and rowing collegiately at Virginia Tech, Dr. Sanchez sought the expertise of a Sport Psychologist to help her through a performance slump. The positive impact this training had on her own athletic endeavors allowed her to realize her true passion – to assist others in achieving performance excellence while living a high quality, balanced life. In her free time Dr. Sanchez competes in Stand-up Paddle Board (SUP) races, and enjoys surfing, yoga, swimming, and biking. Her most recent watersport to pick up is the surfski.

Mental Performance Specialist

Tracy Heller

Dr. Tracy Heller is an O2X Mental Performance Specialist whose expertise is in providing mental skills training for optimal performance in high-pressure scenarios.
Her areas of specialization include goal-attainment, stress management, attention control, mindfulness, relaxation strategies, mistake management, mind-body recovery, biofeedback for self-regulation, and breathing training. Her professional experience includes working with individuals and teams within Division I collegiate sports, high school athletics, recreational sport, executives, corrections, and the military. She also provides educational workshops for professional development. Dr. Heller enjoys working in a multidisciplinary team atmosphere to meet the multifaceted needs of clients.
She received her B.S. in Psychology from St. Lawrence University, M.A. in Sport Psychology from McGill University, and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology with a specialization in Sport Psychology from Florida State University. She is licensed to practice psychology in Virginia and California and is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. She is a member of the Association of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback and is Board Certified in Biofeedback (BCB) through the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance.
Dr. Heller likes to spend her free time exploring restaurants, reading, practicing yoga, hiking, and picking things up then putting them down (she likes to start her week with squats). She was introduced to sport psychology as a junior athlete at the Olympic Training Centre, where she trained for luge. She learned how to systematically develop the cognitive side of her training to improve her performance. It made such a huge impact that she decided to pursue it as a career!

Mental Performance Specialist

Pete Kadushin

Pete Kadushin, Ph.D. is the Manager of Learning and Development for the Chicago Blackhawks, and before stepping into that role, spent three years as the mental performance coach for the Blackhawks. In over fifteen years in the field of performance psychology, he’s had the privilege to work in professional, college, and military high performance settings, with the goal of helping these groups develop the mindset and mental skills that will allow them to more consistently achieve their best performances. His core passion is to help people perform at their highest level so that they can live a more fulfilled, meaningful life.

Pete’s work focuses on two key areas of growth: helping people dial in their ability to learn and refine lessons quickly, and increasing their capacity to apply those lessons under pressure. He believes that tools like self-reflection, breath work, and meditation are invaluable as people walk the path of mastery.

In addition to mental performance coaching, Pete has held academic appointments at Boston University and Western Colorado University, where he taught performance psychology and motor learning at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

MENTAL PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST

Brian Hite

Dr. Brian Hite is an O2X Mental Performance Specialist. He has spent over 40 years immersed in the world of performance, both as a participant and coach. On stage since childhood, Brian has toured with live shows, done standup comedy, performed and coordinated stunts for film/TV, and coached athletes ranging from youth to professional. His diverse background allows him to connect with performers of all types, from actors and musicians to executives and elite athletes. With a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology, Brian takes a holistic approach to maximizing human potential. He works with individuals and teams to develop the mental skills for sustained excellence – managing nerves, focusing amid chaos, retaining confidence after setbacks. Through over a decade of work with the U.S. Army, athletes from a variety of sports, performing artists of all stripes, and entrepreneurs from different industries, Brian has honed strategies to help leaders optimize team culture and performance.

As a Senior Dissertation Chair for Grand Canyon University (GCU), Brian guides doctoral students through the research process, instilling the tenacity needed for rigorous scholarship while encouraging students to engage their curiosity and explore their areas of passion. His certifications as a Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC), Life Coach, Leadership Coach, and Executive Coach further enable him to empathize with clients and provide tailored guidance to meet their needs. Whether he is writing, attending shows and games, or rollerblading and biking with his daughter, Brian lives the ethos he teaches: hard work, perseverance, and passion. After 40 years of living and studying peak performance, he knows that joy and achievement go hand in hand. Brian brings this spirit of enthusiasm and mastery to every session, empowering others to excel.

Mental Performance Specialist

Ira Martin

Dr. Ira Martin is an O2X Mental Performance Specialist. Ira received his Doctoral and Master’s Degrees in Counseling and Human Development with a specialization in Sport Psychology from Boston University. He received his bachelor’s degree Summa Cum Laude from Suffolk University. He also completed a personal and executive coaching program with the Institute of Professional Empowerment Coaching–IPEC, and is a Certified Professional Coach.

Ira became interested in performance psychology as a collegiate ice hockey player, and over the past several years has worked with numerous youth, high school, and college athletes, as well as coaches and referees. He is passionate about educating teams, executives, coaches, and parents, in group and individual settings. Most recently, Ira served as the Leader in Residence at the United States Coast Guard Academy Institute for Leadership, translating leadership research into practice, while actively engaged in the curriculum development, implementation, and assessment of an academy-wide leader development strategy. While at the Academy, Ira spent time in the classroom as an assistant professor of Organizational Behavior and Leadership. Ira has teaching experience at the undergraduate and graduate level at schools such as Boston University, Connecticut College, and Suffolk University.

MENTAL PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST

Gregory Chertok

Greg Chertok is an O2X Mental Performance Specialist. Greg is also the Director of Mental Training at CourtSense, a high-performance junior tennis academy in Bergen County, NJ. He currently holds academic appointments with the Departments of Psychology at Dominican College in Orangeburg, NY, and Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ, and is the founder of Peak Performance Coaching, LLC, based in New York. Greg has given seminars and workshops to coaches, parents, youth, professional athletes, Super Bowl champions, Stanley Cup participants, UFC Pros, Jiu Jitsu World Champions, NCAA champions, Junior Olympians, and Olympic athletes. He has presented at pre-NFL Combine training sessions, USA Hockey Coaches Conventions, international sports medicine symposiums, and sports psychology conferences at the regional and national levels.

Greg has also been featured as a Sports & Exercise Psychology expert on National Public Radio (NPR) Morning Edition, SiriusXM’s “Doctor Radio”, Healthradio’s “Sports Medicine & Fitness Show”, CaptainU Radio, and Voice America’s “Enter the League”. Greg has been an expert media source for Reuters, ESPN, The Wall Street Journal, Outside, Runner’s World Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, SportingKid Magazine, Newsday, Muscle & Fitness Magazine, and Family Circle Magazine, among others. He is on the Editorial Board for the American College of Sports Medicine’s Fit Society Page as well as a member of ACSM’s Consumer Outreach Committee; is a regular contributor to US News & World Report’s Eat + Run wellness blog; and has co-authored a book geared toward youth baseball coaches entitled The Baseball Starter: A Handbook For Coaching Children and Teens. He received his B.A. in Psychology at Tufts University and his M.Ed. in Counseling specializing in Sport & Exercise Psychology at Boston University in 2007. While at Tufts, he captained the baseball team and finished his career as an ESPN The Magazine Academic Regional All-American and a New England College All-Star. He currently co-owns and operates a youth summer sports academy called Pitch by Pitch Baseball and Sports Camps in Congers, NY, one of the area’s larger specialty day camps that features both physical and mental skills training for 6-16 year old athletes. He is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology.

Mental Performance Specialist

Michael Mellinger

Michael is an O2X Human Performance Mental Performance Specialist. Throughout the last 7 years, Michael has worked in various roles ranging from a humble research assistant, to the Director of Performance Psychology Operations within the US Army 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He received a Master of Arts degree in Applied Psychological Research from Penn State University, Leadership and Management certificate from Wharton School of Business, attained both his Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) status from the British Psychological Society in 2020. He holds additional accolades as a member of the British Psychological Society’s Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology and holds status as both a Voluntary Career Speaker and Associate Fellow (AFBPsS).

Since 2016, he has helped build independent human performance focused departments at both the United States Naval Academy and the US Army’s 7SFG(A), served as the USNA’s liaison for one of the world’s largest research projects, and has earned recognition as one of the world’s premier human performance subject-matter-experts (SME) within US Army Special Operations – developing and managing over 10 state-of-the-art human performance programs.

Currently, he serves as an SME working alongside special operations forces, first responders, and business leaders around the world and focusing on developing new and innovative methods of coaching to enhance human performance during person-to-person and kinetic engagements. His primary areas of expertise are centered around leadership management, enhanced communication methods, team culture, KPI tracking initiatives, and holistic human performance development. 

Outside of the professional sphere, Michael holds a high degree of interest in Olympic lifting – attaining his Level 1 certification through USA Weightlifting – and enjoys traveling around the globe to learn about different languages, histories, cultures and customs.

Mental Performance Specialist

Bobby Schlote

Bobby Schlote is an O2X Mental Performance Specialist. Bobby is motivated to help others strive to be the best version of themselves on a consistent basis. He applies his knowledge and expertise in the field of Sport and Performance Psychology to help individuals and teams optimize their mental performance and unlock their inner potential.

He began his career working with amateur and collegiate athletes before transitioning his passion to the military community. Over the years, Bobby has worked with over 40,000 Soldiers as a Performance Expert for the US Army’s Ready and Resilient (R2) program. During this time, he served as a Lead Performance Expert for various Basic Combat Training Battalions, and as the Lead Performance Expert for the United States Army Drill Sergeant Academy (USADSA) at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. While at the USADSA he worked with thousands of Drill Sergeant Leaders and Drill Sergeant Candidates on mastering psychological skills for personal and professional applications, as they are tasked with developing the next generation of the US Army. 

His passion for the Army expands beyond the classroom and in 2016 he joined the South Carolina Army National Guard. Upon receiving his commission in 2018 as a Signal Officer, he served as a Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Brigade Human Resource Officer in a traditional guard role (part-time). He is currently in a full-time role with the South Carolina Army National Guard as the Battalion Training Officer for a Cyber Protection Battalion. 

Bobby received his B.S. in Sport and Exercise Psychology from West Virginia University and his M.S. in Sport and Exercise Psychology from Georgia Southern University. When he is not wearing his uniform or working with those who do, he spends as much quality time as possible with his wife and their two daughters in their hometown of Columbia, South Carolina.

Mental Performance Specialist

Brad Marshall

Brad Marshall is an O2X Mental Performance Specialist. Brad Marshall has been fascinated with human performance along with helping people live happier, healthier lives for as long as he can remember. Over the last decade, he has trained athletes, military personnel, corporate executives, law enforcement, first responders, and individuals who have big goals for how they want their lives to unfold. He loves helping and coaching others in the areas of movement, mindset, nutrition, and recovery.

Brad has worked to educate himself and gain the necessary skills and experience to provide the best experience to his clients, earning certifications in the following areas: a Master’s degree in sport psychology, a CrossFit Level 2 trainer, a Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification, a Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement Certification, a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Certification, and an O23 Level 2 Holistic Lifestyle Coaching Certification.

You can catch Brad playing softball, working on his golf game, volunteering at local fitness events, or enjoying all things superheroes when he’s not working with others. Brad has relentlessly been figuring out how to elevate the quality of life of others through the practices of mindset, movement, nutrition, and recovery. He’s beyond excited to work with others who share his mission of living happier, healthier, and more fulfilled lives.

MENTAL PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST

Heather LeGette

Heather LeGette is an O2X Mental Performance Specialist. Heather strives to attain high levels of personal and professional well being and is passionate about helping others do the same. She enjoys living a balanced life where nutrition, physical fitness, recovery, mental fortitude, and emotional health are at the forefront of daily operations. She spends her time outside of work at her local gym, hiking, camping, traveling, or spending quality time with loved ones. Heathers background is in Sport and Performance Psychology. She participated in competitive cheerleading for over 10 years, coached for 8, and currently trains in CrossFit and Olympic Weightlifting. After completing her Bachelor’s in Psychology and Minor in Exercise Biology from the University of California, Davis, she went on to complete her Master’s Degree in Sport Psychology from John F. Kennedy University. She has worked with the US Army for over 8 years providing mental skills training to optimize performance and enhance resilience of Soldiers, their family members, and DA civilians. Additionally, she has helped athletes from a variety of sports improve their performance. Her favorite part of the work is seeing the impact mental skills training can have on people’s quality of life.

Strength & Conditioning Specialist

Zach Weatherfod

Zach Weatherford is an O2X Strength & Conditioning Specialist. Zach is currently a self-employed human performance consultant. He is contracted with the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee as well as the Naval Special Warfare Training Command offering support and development for their staff. 

Weatherford recently completed a 3-year term (2016-2019) as the Director of Human Performance with the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA after spending 6 years as a Civilian Human Performance Manager for the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command.

Before his Department of Defense experience, Weatherford held multiple roles with the U.S. Olympic Committee. From 2007-2009, Weatherford was a sports physiologist for the U.S. Olympic Committee, where he led a multidisciplinary team of science-based human performance professionals that implemented platforms across 17 U.S. Olympic Team programs.

In addition, Weatherford served as the Strength and Conditioning & Video Specialist for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard team from 2004-2007 as well as as the Strength and Conditioning Coordinator for the U.S. Olympic Committee from 2000-2004. Throughout this time, Weatherford was on staff for three Olympic Games: 2004 in Athens, 2006 in Torino and 2008 in Beijing.

Strength & Conditioning Specialist

Chris Ullom

Chris Ullom is an O2X Strength and Conditioning Specialist. He has worked in the fields of Health, Fitness and Human Performance since 1994 following the completion of his bachelor’s degree in Sports Medicine from Old Dominion University.  He then completed his master’s degree in Physical Education from Radford University in 1997 while serving as a Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer. For the next several years he would work as a Certified Athletic Trainer in both the high school and physical therapy settings.  In 2000 Chris would earn the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist credential from the NSCA and form Atlantic Sports Performance, a company dedicated to improving the performance and injury resilience of youth athletes. 

In 2004, Chris would become the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for USA Field Hockey, helping the US Women qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games – the first time the US had qualified without being the host country in over twenty years.  This coincided with his work at Wareing’s Gym in Virginia Beach, VA – the oldest gym in the country. Initially a personal trainer specializing in youth athletes, Chris would go on to become the Director of Training and eventually General Manager. 

During his tenure, Wareing’s Gym would become the premier training center in Virginia Beach, with the introduction of world-renowned programs such as the Parisi Speed School (the national leader in youth performance training), Alloy Personal Training Systems and Martin Rooney’s famed Training for Warriors program.

In 2021 Chris became the Director of Human Performance for Naval Special Warfare Group 8 East, serving both the SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2 and Special Reconnaissance Team 2. After 3 ½ years with NSW, Chris went back to work in the fitness industry to become the Director of Strength and Conditioning for Onelife Fitness in Virginia Beach.

In addition to being a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, he is also a Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach (NSCA), a USA Weightlifting Level 2 Coach and a Level 1 Titlelist Performance Institute Certified Fitness Professional.

Strength & Conditioning Specialist

Mike Sanders

Mike Sanders is an O2X Strength & Conditioning Specialist. He received his master’s degree in Exercise Science in 1999, from the University of Nebraska-Kearney and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist from the National Strength and Conditioning Association. As a strength and conditioning coach, he has been blessed to be part of many athletic team successes, including back-to-back national championships in D-I Collegiate Men’s Ice Hockey.

In 2010, he moved from the sport athletics world to working with tactical athletes, physically training military and consulting with fire fighters. He has extensive experience and knowledge physically preparing Division-I athletes and tactical athletes for the rigors of competition, combat, and work.

He is also the founder and president of Junto Tribe Ministries, a ministry committed to helping people achieve their highest potential in spirit, mind, and body. He is a speaker, author, and coach, and is currently working towards becoming a certified chaplain for first responders, police, and military.

He enjoys spending time with his family and friends and loves to read, learn, write, think, and train. It could be argued that he has a slight addiction to coffee and believes outdoors is always better than indoors. To unwind, he enjoys going paddle boarding, sitting quietly in the great outdoors, and watching movies. Mike is married to his wonderful wife, Julie, and has two daughters and a fur ball for a dog.

Strength & Conditioning Specialist

Matt Cady

Matt Cady is an O2X Strength & Conditioning Specialist with expertise in physical performance and strength and conditioning. He has been training traditional athletes, military, and first responders for 15 years. Matt has been certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, USA Weightlifting, Precision Nutrition, and Functional Movement Screen. He has authored articles, spoken at seminars, and been a guest on various podcasts. Matt was a 4-year college ice hockey athlete at Miami University where he received a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and a minor in Coaching. Upon graduating, he was a member of the University of Denver hockey coaching staff, where the team won the National Championship. Matt returned to Miami University to continue his strength and conditioning career and earn a Master of Science degree in Kinesiology. 

Matt was a collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coach for 8 years. His teams won world medals, national championships, and league championships. His individual athletes earned All American honors, became league MVPs, and received the Hobey Baker (the highest individual award for men’s collegiate ice hockey). Many of the athletes he has trained have also competed at the professional level. In 2016, Matt took his expertise and collegiate experience to the military where he was a Tactical Human Performance Specialist for 7th Special Forces Group. There, he was privileged to train and educate some of the military’s finest soldiers on smarter ways to train. He created specific programming to prepare them for deployments and specialized selection courses. 

Matt now works in the private sector for Impact Sports Performance. He trains, advises, and educates youth to professional athletes on performance measures such as strength, speed, and explosiveness, as well as, rest, recovery, nutrition, hydration, and mental toughness. When Matt is not at work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and dog. He enjoys reading articles to continue his learning and stay up to date with current events and training trends. Matt stays active by working out in his garage, mountain biking, and stand-up paddle boarding.

Strength & Conditioning Specialist

Ana Tocco

Ana Tocco is an O2X Strength & Conditioning Specialist. Ana is also the Associate Head Strength and Conditioning Coordinator at St. Johns Preparatory in Danvers, MA. In her role, she assists with development, implementation, and oversight of all strength and conditioning programs for students, faculty, and staff.

Prior to SJP, she worked as the Head Strength Coach and Site Director at Innercity Weightlifting, a non-profit organization that works to reduce youth violence by connecting proven-risk young people with new networks and opportunities in and beyond personal and group training.

After graduating from University of Massachusetts Amherst with a Kinesiology degree and as captain of the Women’s Rowing Team, she got her start at Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning (MBSC) in Woburn, MA. The growth-focused environment at MBSC motivated Ana in a way she had never experienced. After a few short years, she went on to earn her Master’s in Coaching Education at Boston University and worked as a Graduate Assistant in BU’s varsity weight room.

Currently, in addition to her time at SJP, she works with O2X to help tactical athletes maximize human performance through a curriculum that provides concrete ways to make incremental changes that lead to sustainable improvements.

Ana enjoys using strength and conditioning as her platform to work with others to develop life skills. She specializes in getting athletes to set goals that focus on the process of training rather than only on the outcome. She enjoys helping athletes increase and improve the likelihood that they will reach their true athletic potential. Ana continues to further her education by attending conferences and seminars each year.

Her certifications include: SCCC (Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Certification) Functional Movement Screening (FMS) Functional Range Conditioning (FRC) Precision Nutrition- Level 1 USA-Weightlifting Coach Strong First Certified Kettlebell Instructor Level 1 Certified Wellness Coach through American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP) Postural Restorative Institute (PRI) Altis Speed and Sprinting Mechanics Mentorship Program.

Strength & Conditioning Specialist

Josh Lamont

Josh Lamont is an O2X Strength & Conditioning Specialist from Baltimore, Maryland.  He is a Certified Athletic Trainer and Strength and Conditioning Coach who owns AthletEdge, a company that specializes in assessing, training, and educating athletes of all ages in order to improve their performance and increase their resiliency.

Josh attended Towson University in Baltimore where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training.  From there, he went onto University of Delaware for his Master of Science degree in Exercise Physiology and worked with the Strength and Conditioning staff, training the school’s athletic teams. 

Following graduate school, Josh had the opportunity to live out a childhood dream as he spent many years in professional baseball.  Although his dream was to be a player at that level, he spent his time training and rehabilitating the ballplayers in order to improve their performance and help them decrease their chance of injury. Working in baseball offered Josh the opportunity to travel the country, which is how he met his amazing wife in Chicagoland, and began working with Tactical Athletes in Arizona.  

Since moving back to Baltimore so his children could grow up near family, Josh has been able to return to playing ‘old-man’ baseball.  His desire to be competitive and avoid injury has driven Josh to train consistently for performance and to keep up with his children while, at the same time, be a role model to the athletes he works with.

Strength and Conditioning Specialist

Jillian Zeller

Jill Zeller is an O2X Strength & Conditioning Specialist. Zeller currently is the Sr. Associate Director of Athletic Performance at the University of Georgia, working specifically with women’s soccer and women’s golf. Before her time with the Bulldogs, she was the Sports Performance Coach for San Diego Wave FC of the National Women’s Soccer League. She helped the team win the regular season in 2023. Prior to the Wave, Zeller was at the University of Southern California, working with women’s soccer, lacrosse, and beach volleyball (5-time national champions). 

Before she got to USC, she worked with a variety of sports and athletes at places like EXOS and Mike Boyle’s Strength and Conditioning. Zeller spent one year as the Director of Sports Performance for the Wake Forest women’s basketball team. She served as a strength and conditioning coach for Boston University and USA Hockey, while also interning with Northeastern University and Athletes’ Performance. She went to 5 World Championships with USA Hockey’s U18-22 teams. 

A native of Newton, Massachusetts, Zeller graduated from James Madison University in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and from Boston University in 2014 with a master’s degree in Coaching Education.

She is passionate about supporting those who want to use strength training to help make their daily needs better.

Strength & Conditioning Specialist

Molly Poalino

Molly Poalino is an O2X Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Strength and conditioning has never been a job for Poalino, it has always been her passion. Her career began in the realm of athletic performance while working to get her Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She gained diverse experiences with her multiple internships throughout the state of MA during her college career.

Coach Molly’s next stop was University of West Florida to obtain her Masters of Health Science, specializing in Physical Education/Teacher Education. As a graduate assistant, she gained experience working in the collegiate setting. This experience would springboard her to a position at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. At UNC Molly worked with 5 varsity teams ranging from Cross Country to Gymnastics. While working at UNC, Molly met her now husband, Eric Poalino, an Army officer. This would shift her career path in the direction of tactical strength and conditioning.

After 4 years at UNC, Coach Poalino would make the jump to the tactical setting, working with the US Army 27th Engineers as a contractor. She spent 2 years building the Health and Holistic Fitness (H2F) program from the ground up. Molly created programs to help soldiers prepare for the new Army Combat Fitness Test, Ranger School, Sapper School, and Special Operations selection. She also helped bridge soldiers back to their companies after injuries. The knowledge and experience she gained with the H2F program empowered her to secure a contractor position as the Strength and Conditioning Coach at Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC).Whether it is maintaining a healthy lifestyle, or training for a specific school or selection, Molly is there to educate all branches of the military to achieve success. Molly is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach (CSCS) through the NSCA and Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified (SCCC) through the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association. In her spare time, she is cheering for all things New England, playing rugby or exploring the outdoors with Eric, daughter Parker and two dogs Brady & Billie.

Strength & Conditioning Specialist

Ryan Kirby

Ryan Kirby is an O2X Strength & Conditioning Specialist. Ryan was born and raised in Dallas, Georgia where he grew up with his two brothers and two sisters. He comes from an athletic family that has always been involved in sports. Ryan and his brothers were top athletes at the state and national level growing up. This is what led him into his career in the Marine Corps. It was that sense of purpose and unity that made the Marine Corps, especially the infantry, the only place that he wanted to go after high school. After multiple tours in Afghanistan, Okinawa, South Korea, and Thailand, Ryan decided that he would pursue other endeavors that he never thought possible before the military.

            After getting out of the Marine Corps, Ryan started school at Kennesaw State University, where he has received both a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Exercise Science and Exercise Physiology. During his time in school, Ryan had the opportunity to work with multiple sports teams on campus. His passion in life is working with and educating athletes. Ryan also plays and writes music, loves the outdoors, and loves Georgia Football.

Strength & Conditioning Specialist

Michael Pimentel

Michael Pimentel is an O2X Strength & Conditioning Specialist. Michael is also a varsity collegiate strength and conditioning coach at Brown University. Michael received both his Bachelors in Exercise Science and his Masters in Strength and Conditioning from Bridgewater State University. He helps oversee 38 varsity sports, and specializes in 10: Men’s Lacrosse, Men’s & Women’s Hockey, Men’s & Women’s Crew, Men’s & Women’s Water Polo, Women’s Soccer, and Men’s & Women’s Swim & Dive. Michael works with each and every one of his athletes on injury prevention, maximizing athletic potential, educating on healthy lifestyle, and giving them tools for life, ensuring that they have a positive student/athlete experience. Michael has helped prepare his athletes for several Final Fours, NCAA Tournaments, and Ivy League Championships. Along his journey he has helped produce All Americans, National Champions and professional athletes. 

Michael is passionate about continuing education, learning new concepts, and bettering himself and those around him. He has a strong connection with his team, and maekes sure he stays current in his field in order to help his athletes thrive, recover faster, and stay ahead of their competition. Michael is certified through the SCCC, one of the highest ranking certifications in the field for collegiate strength and conditioning coaches. He is also a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength & Conditioning Association and a certified Sports Performance coach through the United States Weightlifting Association (USAW). Michael strives for excellence with his athletes in recovery, which is why he holds a certification through Reflexive Performance Reset. During his Master’s program, Michael conducted a research study on concussion prevention in sports, as well as co-publishing an article on grip strength. Throughout the course of his educational career, Michael completed several internships at top strength & conditioning programs, such as University of Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Brown University.

Michael has a strong sense of empathy with his athletes and holds himself as a leader, not a boss. His own experience in collegiate sports allows him to connect on a deeper level with his athletes and assist them beyond what the textbooks teach. His emphasis on mental health and living a fulfilling, balanced lifestyle, makes him not only a well-rounded coach, but a mentor to many. Michael continues to compete in powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, prone paddling, and open water swimming, as well as participates in recreational surfing. Michael holds a healthy sense of competition, which allows him to grow as a professional and as an individual. On a daily basis, Michael is striving for excellence with the hope he can help the world become 1% better.

Strength & Conditioning Specialist

D.J. Velky

D.J. is an O2X Instructor and Strength and Conditioning Specialist, who previously served in the United States Marine Corps as an infantry squad leader with 1st Battalion 9th Marines. His final duty station was Marine Corps Base Quantico where he served as a Warfighting Instructor at The Basic School. Following his time in service, D.J. obtained his B.S. in Kinesiology from James Madison University. D.J.’s passion for health and fitness, especially within the tactical community, paired with his enthusiasm for helping others while optimizing their athletic abilities are factors that have led him to coaching tactical athletes. His first-hand knowledge of tactical tasks and environments combined with his unique programming and sheer enthusiasm for working with the tactical demographics allows him to optimize performance for each individual athlete.

STRENGTH & CONDITIONING SPECIALIST

Tyler Jewell

Tyler is an O2X Strength & Conditioning Specialist. As a prior US Olympian, he competed in snowboarding in the Torino and Vancouver Winter Games. He is a mental performance coach with over 10 years of experience, including from the Naval Tactical Athlete Program. Tyler was a varsity lacrosse player at Boston College.

Strength & Conditioning Specialist

Matt Thompson

Matt is an O2X Strength and Conditioning Specialist who currently works as a contract Strength and Conditioning Specialist with a US Special Operations unit in Northwest Florida. Matt has been blessed to spend the bulk of his career working with tactical athletes from diverse positions and backgrounds. He also has experience working with athletes and teams competing in collegiate and high level sport at the international level.  Matt began working with tactical athletes in 2014 in Colorado Springs, CO where he spent 5 years working with specialized law enforcement teams from the city, county, and federal levels. Matt also spent a lot of time instructing strength and conditioning courses for military, law enforcement, and fire service personnel all over the United States. Matt has a B.S. in Exercise Science from Colorado State University and holds the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Matt lives in Defuniak Springs, FL with his wife Karissa and their 2 daughters. He enjoys spending time outdoors, reading, and making sure his daughters don’t get into (too much) trouble.

Strength & Conditioning Specialist

Tia Sapienza

Tia Sapienza is an O2X Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Tia has been in the sports medicine, health, and exercise field for over 10 years. Her passion for fostering positive relationships with health, wellness, and fitness has developed over that time. Tia went back to school for a graduate degree in strength and conditioning with hopes to dive into this field head first. Her cumulative experience extends over youth, adult, recreational, tactical, and professional athletes and is unique given her experience as an outpatient physical therapy assistant, CrossFit Coach, youth program developer, and collegiate strength and conditioning coach. Tia is interested in these athletes as a whole, incorporating goal setting and reaching, emotional barriers, and mental health strategies to make them better. She enjoys a fast pace, explaining concepts and reasons behind what she is teaching.

Strength & Conditioning Specialist

Adam DeMarais

Adam DeMarais is an O2X Strength & Conditioning Specialist. Adam has been a strength and conditioning coach since 2008 and has had the pleasure of working with tactical populations, athletes, and the general population. He received his Bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University, where he majored in Biology and minored in Sports Medicine. This combination of fields provided Adam with a unique perspective on the intersection between science and human performance. He also received his Master’s degree from Concordia University Chicago where he studied Exercise Science with a concentration on human movement.

Strength & Conditioning Specialist

Matthew Zanis

Dr. Matthew Zanis, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT, OCS, ATC, CSCS, is an O2X Strength & Conditioning Specialist and owner of Rooted in MVMNT, a human movement and vitality company. Dr. Zanis obtained his bachelor’s in athletic training from the University of Pittsburgh and Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Duke University. He is a strength and conditioning coach, orthopedic specialist, and fellowship trained in manual therapy. Dr. Zanis works with a broad demographic from Olympians, including the athletes of USA Shooting, to Naval Special Warfare and everyone in between. His vision is to create an awareness of new ways of working with the human body in rehabilitation, performance, and coaching circles, and bring that alive for strength and conditioning and rehabilitation professionals alike through a philosophy that is rooted in movement.

Yoga Specialist

Alyssa Olsen

Alyssa Olsen is an O2X Yoga Specialist who teaches Vinyasa and Restorative based yoga classes. Alyssa completed her 200 RYT training in 2020 and began actively teaching her patients adaptive yoga as a part of the Adaptive Sports Program at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC), with the intention of helping these individuals find connection and ease with moving, breathing, and down regulating their bodies. 

Alyssa brings a comprehensive background in exercise physiology and movement modification to her yoga practice. Alyssa worked as a PTA from 2013-2021 at Walter Reed’s Military Advanced Training Center (MATC); one of three outpatient trauma arcs in the country providing physical therapy to combat injured service members. She presently lives in San Diego where she actively teaches yoga in both the San Diego (in person) & Washington DC (virtual) communities.  It is Alyssa’s passion to help any individual connect deeper with their bodies.

Yoga Specialist

Susann Dreiling

Susann “Susie” Dreiling is an O2X Yoga and iRest Specialist.  She is a 23 year federal law enforcement veteran, having retired as a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2020.  While working as a Special Agent, Susie investigated high profile violent crime and white collar criminal cases.  Susie achieved the designation as an Advanced Instructor early in her career. 

Subsequently she taught the Instructional Systems Design process and certified countless personnel from state/local/international law enforcement entities, frequently serving as the Lead Instructor.  Susie held designations as an FBI General Police Instructor, Advanced Instructor, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Physical Fitness Advisor, and Active Shooter for Civilians Instructor.  In addition, Susie served as both a Supervisory Special Agent and GS-15 Unit Chief, overseeing the FBI’s Physical Training Unit (PTU) at the FBI Academy for 6 years. 

PTU held enterprise-wide responsibility for the FBI’s physical fitness, defensive tactics and less lethal programs where she first began her yoga instructor journey.  While managing PTU, Susie completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training program to further enhance the training she provided to students and employees of the FBI given the nature of chronic fatigue and repetitive injuries that were sustained. 

Following her return to investigative duties in Clearwater, FL Susie earned her 500-hour yoga teacher designation.  She has certifications as a Relax and Renew Level 1 Instructor by Judith Hanson Lasater, iRest Level 1, is a Certified Warriors at Ease Teacher (L2) and is currently working towards completing her 1000-hour yoga instructor certification.  Holding the designation of E-RYT 500 and as a Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP), Susie continues to provide instruction through both studio classes and during yoga teacher training courses.  During 2022, she co-founded Comprehensive Defensive Systems LLC, a Florida-based business specializing in providing firearms training & expertise, personal safety & self defense, threat assessments, and active shooter training for civilians.  As part of those efforts, she expanded her certifications to include USCCA Firearms Instructor and NRA Range Safety Officer.

Yoga Specialist

Brittany Petty

Brittany Petty is an O2X Yoga & Resilience Specialist who teaches yoga, mindfulness, and yoga nidra (E-500HR RYT, YACEP) to her students and as a lead instructor in Yoga Teacher Trainings. She has been teaching yoga since 2012 and has been a Yoga Alliance Certified Education Provider since 2015 (E-500HR RYT, YACEP).  She attended the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City to complete her Health Coaching Certification (IINHC).  Brit went on to receive her Masters of Clinical Social Work (MSW) from Boston University in order to continue to tie her life’s work together; body, mind, and breath. 

She has teaching and clinical work experience with a range of ages and life experiences, from working as a counselor in the public school systems, to teaching yoga to professionals in the tech space.  As she earned her license as an Independent Clinical Worker (LICSW), Brit worked in outpatient therapy and milieu settings with peer support.  In June 2023, Brit opened her own Private therapy practice located in Central, MA but serving all of Massachusetts.  Brit builds relationships with children, adolescents, and adults coping with anxiety, depressions, mood lability, life transitions, grief, trauma, and other forms of emotional pain. She utilizes many techniques including, but not limited to insight oriented therapy, cognitive behavioral treatment, dialectical behavioral, and yoga therapeutics.  

Brit’s husband is a Marine OIF Veteran and a Lieutenant in the Worcester Fire Department; they love spending their free time with their two kids. She and her family enjoy being involved in their community; she is a founding board member of the 365Z Commitment to Kindness Foundation.  The mission of the foundation is to perpetuate the spread of kindness within Central Massachusetts by its member’s commitment to conscious acts of kindness, providing guidance and services to local schools, infants and children, elderly, and veterans.  

Yoga Specialist

Annie Okerlin

Annie Okerlin is an O2X Yoga Specialist who presents yoga, sleep, resiliency & iRest Yoga Nidra (C-iRest, C-IAYT) to tactical athletes & first responders nationwide.

Annie has been a yoga teacher since 1999. The daughter of two World War II and Korean War veterans, Annie has a deep appreciation for the veterans of our country. Her passion for helping the wounded warriors of today’s wars led her to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, DC in 2006 where she has worked with the traumatically injured, including amputees, burn victims, those with orthopedic poly-trauma, traumatic brain injuries, spinal-cord injuries, as well as unseen injuries such as PTSD and moral injury. Annie founded Yogani in Tampa and was the owner of this successful yoga studio for over 18 years.  She continues to share yoga and meditation with the military community of Tampa by teaching classes at the VA hospital, local studios and in retreat settings.

As one of the nation’s leading experts on Adaptive Yoga, Annie teaches nationally and internationally with The Exalted Warrior Foundation, a non-profit organization she founded in 2010 to support wounded warriors with the seen & unseen issues of traumatic injury.

In addition to her extensive yoga training and experience, Annie is a Certified iRest® teacher & has also co-authored the book Best Practices for Yoga for Veterans.

Yoga Specialist

Robyn Tiger

Robyn Tiger is an O2X Yoga Specialist, physician and trauma-informed self-care coach. As founder of StressFreeMD, she utilizes her unique combination of training in medicine, yoga therapy, iRest® meditation and life coaching to educate others how to be stress-free from the inside out. Her innovative teachings focus on complete physical, mental and emotional well-being and resilience. She is the creator of numerous accredited programs for health care providers and hosts The StressFreeMD Podcast where she provides simple and effective stress management tools. 

Dr. Tiger is a Western Carolina Medical Society Healthy Healer Partner, is on the faculty for Trauma Informed Yoga Therapy, serves on the Advisory Council of Yoga Therapy Today & yogatherapy.health, and is certified through Warriors at Ease, serving military and veteran communities.

Her deep passion to help others more fully grew out of her many years in medical practice witnessing firsthand the need for self-care education. She guides individuals to holistically achieve optimal health, become the best versions of themselves, live their most fulfilling lives and thrive!

Yoga Specialist

Janel Norton

Janel Norton is an O2X Yoga Instructor, U.S. Air Force Veteran, and passionate advocate for yoga and wellness in tactical and veteran communities. Having served as a combat photojournalist in the Air Force, she later worked as a press information officer and photojournalist for the United Nations, covering crises in Panama, Bosnia, and Liberia. After 20 years in the photography industry, Janel transitioned into wellness, earning her master’s degree from the University of South Florida and discovering yoga as a powerful tool for maintaining balance in her life.

Janel’s passion for yoga quickly evolved into a career shift. After completing her 500-hour yoga teacher training, she took ownership of Trinity Yoga Studio in the Tampa Bay area. Her desire to give back to the veteran community led her to co-found the Warrior Wellness Program, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to offering alternative therapies to military veterans navigating the transition to civilian life.

As a certified iRest Yoga Nidra instructor and a specialist in trauma-informed yoga, Janel now travels nationwide, offering adaptive yoga and iRest to first responders and veterans through partnerships with organizations like O2X Human Performance, the VA Summer Sports Clinics, the Wounded Warrior Foundation, and more.

When not on the road, Janel enjoys hiking with her husband Ray and their yellow lab, Bhrodi, while they build their retirement home in Eastern Tennessee’s mountains

Yoga Specialist

Lauren D’Angelo

Lauren D’Angelo is an O2X Yoga Specialist. Lauren found her way into her first yoga class after years of playing sports, participating in triathlons, and running marathons. From the first class, she was hooked and knew instantly that she wanted to be a yoga instructor. Lauren’s classes are an active, powerful, movement-based vinyasa, and they are crafted and created to be accessible for all. She has crafted her own unique style that incorporates strength and stretch, but also mindfulness that allows the student to feel and move in a safe way. In her 11 years teaching, she has taught in settings such as the UnderArmour world headquarters, Oakley world headquarters, the Boston Common, Yoga Reaches Out, and as an E-RYT 500, has participated as a Lead Trainer in 4 different teacher trainings. Lauren is the founder of Lola Yoga, “whereimat” podcast, and is an avid blogger. She is dedicated to continuing to learn and grow and bring her knowledge to her students.

Yoga Specialist

Claudia Cavazza

Claudia Cavazza is an O2X Yoga Specialist. Claudia is an E-RYT 200 and RYT 500 yoga teacher and graduate from VETOGA, a national non-profit organization with the mission to bring yoga and meditation to veterans, first-responders and their families. 

In addition, Claudia has completed a trauma-informed yoga training program through Prison Yoga Project specifically designed to teach yoga to trauma affected populations, a trauma-sensitive yoga training with the Trauma Sensitive Yoga Trauma Center, has completed the Professional & Advanced Yoga Nidra certification with the Integrative Amrit Yoga Nidra Method and the iRest Level 1 Yoga Nidra training. Claudia is also a Certified Trauma Professional and a Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional.

While Claudia considers herself a life-long student of yoga, her main goal is to share an accessible, inclusive and culturally relevant yoga practice with corporate clients, firefighters, veterans and active duty military and their families. 

Claudia has produced several yoga focused events in collaboration with VETOGA, Wounded Warrior Project, Mindful Warrior Retreats, the US Special Forces Duskin & Stephens Foundation, the Georgetown Men’s Basketball Team and the Washington Wizards NBA Team.

During her 7 year tenure at lululemon, Claudia spearheaded the lululemon regional CSR initiative, Here to Be, leading the Yoga Garden experience at the White House Easter Egg Roll during the last 4 years of the Obama administration, while also developing a powerful partnership with VETOGA aimed to serve veterans, active duty military and first responders through yoga, meditation and Yoga Nidra. 

Claudia has recently founded the corporate wellness company WRKwell, to deliver VOI (Value on Investment) focused stress management, personal development, and employee engagement programs to corporate clients. WRKwell combines the power of yoga and meditation with leadership and corporate responsibility training to provide tools for both organizations and corporate employees to thrive in their work environment. Claudia’s clients include veterans, first responders and public safety officers from the DC metro area, the incarcerated, college students and student athletes, at risk youth, and corporate employees.

Claudia is also continuing her volunteer contribution to the Vetoga organization developing topic specific trainings and practices and community initiatives.

Yoga Specialist

Alli Houseworth

Alli Houseworth is an E-RYT 500 yoga instructor, iRest Level Two teacher, and C-IAYT in training. In 2017 she became a Warriors at Ease certified instructor after having acquired the unique skills and techniques needed to effectively bring trauma-informed and adaptive yoga to the military community. 

Alli is the sister of a medically retired firefighter, daughter of an Army veteran, granddaughter of career Air Force and Army veterans, and great-granddaughter of a WWI veteran. She married her husband, an active duty Coast Guardsman, in 2014. After multiple PCS moves in rapid succession that made continuing her previous career nearly impossible, Alli found her way to yoga as a means to reduce stress and anxiety triggered by life in the military. 

Alli began her yoga teaching journey leading power yoga classes in studios, at an Air Force fitness center, and for Army PT. As her teaching and education continued, Alli became wildly passionate about sharing trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness practices to service members, veterans, and first responders.

Over the last seven years, Alli has taught iRest meditation and adaptive yoga to soldiers in the Army Soldier Recovery Care Units (an extensive reconditioning program for soldiers suffering from visible and invisible injuries) at Schofield Barracks, Walter Reed, and Ft. Belvoir; yoga, iRest, and psycho-ed workshops on resilience and post-traumatic growth at an in-patient treatment center for substance use disorder; trauma-informed mindfulness programs to incarcerated veterans in the state of Maryland; and more. She served as Executive Director of Warriors at Ease and continues with the organization as a lead faculty member.

While the work she does can be quite heavy, Alli prides herself in her highly educational yet light and fun-loving approach.

Yoga Specialist

Tina Lanzoni

Tina Lanzoni E-RYT500, C-IAYT, is an O2X Yoga Specialist and a level II iRest yoga nidra teacher trained by Richard Miller. She is a mentor for upcoming teachers in the Kripalu Integrative Yoga Therapy program. Tina began teaching in the movement and fitness industry in 1985 and started teaching yoga in 2000. She is a certified Yoga Therapist through the Kripalu School of Integrative Yoga Therapy and is certified through the International Association of Yoga Therapists and Yoga Alliance. With over 10,000 hours of teaching experience, Tina shares her expertise freely. Her classes and one-on-one training provide a space where people feel safe to explore and go inward to connect with the subtle meditative aspects of yoga. Her passionate and relatable personality, and constant search for knowledge keeps her classes welcoming, heart-felt, safe and inspirational.

Yoga Specialist

Alexis Miller

Alexis Miller is an O2X Yoga and iRest Specialist. She is a 500-Hour RYT; iRest Level 1 Certified Teacher; Certified Warriors at Ease Teacher; and a Radiant Child Yoga Approved Teacher. For over five years she has offered yoga and meditation to a wide variety of clients — a bulk of whom are affiliated with the military community. Alexis has taught over 800 hours of yoga and meditation and continues to teach on a weekly basis. She has partnered with organizations like the USO to provide guided meditations to members of the military community. She has also offered yoga and meditation to Air Force units for Unit PT. She developed the Wild Blue Yonder Meditations podcast to offer a free resource for practicing yoga nidra. She publishes two new meditations a week. She has worked with top teachers — like Molly Birkholm, Swami Kashi and Susan Alden — and continues to train in order to foster a continued sense of curiosity and growth professionally. Providing yoga and meditation to the military community is her passion and she hopes to expand the prevalence of the practices in military communities across the world. 

Alexis and her husband, Sean, move every few years and enjoy the company of their Australian Shepherds, Josie and Heath. She enjoys any outdoor activity, world travel, craft beer and Chipotle burritos.

Yoga Specialist

Kendall Wood

Kendall Wood is an O2X Yoga Specialist. Kendall obtained her 500 Hour Experience Registered Yoga Teacher certification and is a Yoga Therapist with over 2000 teaching hours under her belt. Since 2019 she has specialized in working with firefighters and other first responders and tactical athletes. She is also a Level 1 iRest Teacher. Kendall hopes to show others how beneficial yoga can be as a mental health and resiliency tool. Her approach is calm and grounded, and it prioritizes empowering each practitioner to see how they can learn to self-regulate and balance their nervous system with tools rooted in yoga! She is open minded, approachable and will help you feel secure, even if you’ve never tried yoga before.

STRENGTH & CONDITIONING SPECIALIST

John Sim

John Sim is an O2X Strength & Conditioning Specialist. He is also currently a Physical Skills Instructor for the U.S. Secret Service and previously served as the Program Manager for Physical Performance at the Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG). Prior to working at OTSG, John served as the Human Performance Advisor for a US Army Special Operations unit based in the National Capital Region. Throughout his career John has worked with a diverse array of clientele that includes tactical, collegiate, and professional populations. 

John’s strength & conditioning coaching experience includes stops at Georgetown University, Fordham University, Binghamton University, EXOS Headquarters, and Grand Canyon University – where he was hired as the school’s first Graduate Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach. 

Upon completing his commitment at GCU, John was hired by the Army to help develop the first Strength & Conditioning program at US Army Garrison – Yongsan in Seoul, Korea. For the next several years, John continued to make a positive impact in the peninsula by leading various health and fitness programs for both the Army and the Air Force. He was eventually hired to stand up the first Army Wellness Center (AWC) in the country and finished his overseas tenure by serving as the inaugural AWC Director at Camp Humphreys. 

John is certified through the NSCA as a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), Tactical Strength & Conditioning Facilitator (TSAC-F), and Certified Personal Trainer (NSCA-CPT). He is an ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-EP), and is also certified through NASM as a Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES) and Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES). John’s education includes a BA in Psychology, an MBA, and MS in Health & Human Performance. During his spare time, John enjoys training in Brazilian Jiujitsu along with his wife and two children.  

Instructor

Jen Farmer

Jen is an O2X Instructor. Her Health & Wellness journey was catapulted when her son was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She has been working with Veterans & First Responders for the past 8 years in multiple roles. She currently holds a position at her local Township as the Health & Wellness Coordinator and also coordinates and helps lead Equine First Responder Training at a local barn she works at. When she is not at work, she enjoys being home on her farm or doing anything outdoors with her family. Jen is a lifetime student who thrives on learning something new every day. Her mission is to educate and empower First Responders & Families on becoming the best versions of themselves through movement, nourishment, & positivity.