Brandon Athey is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in Strength and Conditioning with Howard County Fire & Rescue. In this role, he leads the development and management of a department-wide human performance program designed to enhance operational readiness across all personnel. He oversees physical training for the recruit academy, leads department-wide on-shift training initiatives, and delivers both individual and group performance coaching. Brandon also collaborates with physical therapists and occupational health providers to coordinate return-to-duty pathways, ensuring injured personnel are safely and efficiently reintegrated to full operational status. His work focuses on optimizing performance, reducing injury risk, and building a sustainable culture of health and readiness within the department.

Prior to joining O2X, Brandon accumulated extensive experience across both tactical and collegiate environments. From 2021 to 2023, he served within the U.S. Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) Program with the 18th Field Artillery Brigade at Fort Bragg, NC, where he was part of one of the first units to implement H2F during its Army-wide rollout. In this role, he helped establish unit-level strength and conditioning systems and co-developed the Steel Fitness Trainer (SFT) course, a train-the-trainer program designed to certify Soldiers as H2F practitioners. His experience during this initial rollout provided him with a unique understanding of building and scaling human performance programs from the ground up. Earlier in his career, Brandon worked in collegiate athletics at institutions including Clemson University, Mount St. Mary’s University, Shippensburg University, and Hagerstown Community College. He currently also serves as an adjunct professor of exercise science at both Hagerstown Community College and Frederick Community College.

Brandon holds a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Salisbury University and a Master of Arts in Sport Coaching with a concentration in Strength and Conditioning from the University of Denver. He is certified as a Registered Strength and Conditioning Specialist (RSCC) and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with Distinction (CSCS,*D) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. His diverse background across tactical and collegiate settings, combined with his commitment to education and program development, allows him to make a meaningful impact on human performance initiatives. Outside of work, Brandon enjoys spending time with his wife, Hailey, and their pets—Loki, Thor, and Gatsby—as well as traveling, exploring breweries, hiking, attending football games, playing video games, and serving at his local church.