Optimizing Performance, Readiness, and Resilience
As a board-certified sports dietitian with extensive experience embedded in tactical environments, I deliver nutrition strategies tailored to the unique demands of military, first responder, and tactical teams. Entering this field with no prior military background, I immersed myself in the culture, leadership structures, and operational rhythms of the U.S. Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force. This adaptability has been central to my success—earning trust, integrating seamlessly with Human Performance Teams, and designing programs that respect the values and communication styles of each unit. My approach balances scientific precision with cultural fluency, ensuring that every strategy fits the mission, the team, and the individual.
There is no single textbook that outlines how to feed the modern warfighter. While the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) has provided valuable foundational guidance, and while sport nutrition textbooks offer baseline recommendations—calorie goals, macronutrient ratios, and grams per kilogram of body weight—these are only starting points.
Most people think of operational rations—such as Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MREs), First Strike Rations (FSRs), Meal, Cold Weather (MCW), and Unitized Group Rations (UGRs)—when they picture “chow” for service members. These rations are engineered to sustain service members in austere environments and are critical during specific operational scenarios. However, most Special Operations Forces do not look forward to these foods because they often fail to meet the extremely high energy demands of their missions.
As a tactical dietitian, I conducted a comprehensive analysis of the nutritional data for the full menus of MREs, FSRs, MCWs, and UGRs, and I supported their strategic use only when operational constraints warranted it. My work revealed what no chart or spreadsheet can fully capture: tactical fueling is not just about prescribing numbers or formulas. Numbers are static. They don’t know an operator’s clinical history, medical conditions, metabolic adaptations from weight fluctuations, the impact of stress, or the cumulative wear of years of training. True tactical nutrition requires understanding physiology and metabolism in an applied, operational context—analyzing how the body responds to specific training demands, mission stressors, and environmental extremes.
By combining field observation with performance data, energy expenditure analysis, and years of experience developing training plans for elite endurance and tactical athletes, I create custom fueling strategies that directly support cognitive resilience, physical readiness, and long-term health. 📩 [Contact Me] to discuss how I can embed with your unit
My Process
My approach integrates evidence-based nutrition science with cultural awareness and field observation to maximize operational readiness and long-term health.
1. Assess the Current System
The first step is to gain a deep understanding of the Human Performance Team (HPT) structure, the key personnel involved, and how they currently communicate and operate.
Policy and Standards Alignment
- I review and incorporate the regulations and guidelines that shape how service members are evaluated and fueled, including:
- Marine Corps Order 6100.3A CH-1: Marine Corps Body Composition and Military Appearance Program.
- Navy Body Composition Assessment Guidelines.
- Military Dietary Reference Intakes (MDRIs): Army Regulation (AR) 40-25.
Understanding these standards is critical to creating nutrition strategies that support performance while ensuring compliance with military policy.
2. Define and Collect Key Data
Once I understand the team structure and cultural dynamics, I assess what is currently being measured, how it is tracked, and where the gaps are. My goal is to build a clear framework that allows leadership and the Human Performance Team (HPT) to monitor health, performance, and readiness over time.
Audit of Existing Tools and Metrics
I begin by evaluating the tools and methods already in place. Often these include:
- Body composition assessments using InBody, iDXA, or skinfold calipers
- Performance testing protocols used by strength coaches or athletic trainers
- Clinical health data tracked by medical officers or medics (as a Registered Dietitian in MHS Genesis EMR.)
- Readiness surveys or cognitive testing currently used in the field
Establishing Relevant and Mission-Specific Data Points
From there, I identify the key metrics that will provide meaningful insight into readiness, recovery, and long-term health. These are chosen for their relevance to operational performance and their feasibility to collect consistently.
3. Understand Training & Deployment Cycles
- Study pre-deployment cycles to anticipate nutrition and performance needs.
- Conduct a needs analysis specific to mission requirements.
- Observe live training maneuvers to evaluate cognitive decline, hydration access, and fueling strategies.
- Create targeted recommendations to sustain energy, recovery, and performance under stress.
4. Evidence-Based Supplement & Safety Guidance
- Study pre-deployment cycles to anticipate nutrition and performance needs.
- Conduct a needs analysis specific to mission requirements.
- Observe live training maneuvers to evaluate cognitive decline, hydration access, and fueling strategies.
- Create targeted recommendations to sustain energy, recovery, and performance under stress.
Transforming Performance
Tactical performance demands science-based nutrition that is seamlessly integrated into the operational culture.
As a board-certified sports dietitian who has successfully embedded within Marine Corps Special Operations, Navy, and Air Force environments, I understand how to build trust, align with military culture, and deliver measurable results.
When service members are fueled to match their true physiological demands, they recover faster, perform longer, think more clearly, and remain resilient under extreme stress.
Let’s Build Your Tactical Nutrition Program
Whether you are seeking to strengthen your Human Performance Team, improve collaboration between coaches and leadership, or establish data-driven nutrition systems from the ground up, I can help.
📩 [Contact Me] to discuss how I can embed with your unit to build a tactical nutrition program that enhances readiness, resilience, and long-term health.
Credentials & Collaborations
- Human Performance Resources (HPRC) – Staying aligned with Department of Defense evidence-based guidelines.
- Tactical Nutrition Summits – Participant and contributor in Fayetteville and Colorado Springs, focusing on cutting-edge tactical nutrition strategies.
- POTFF Contract Experience – Delivered tactical nutrition education and services under SOCOM’s Preservation of the Force and Family program.
- Operation Supplement Safety (OPSS) – Collaborated on campaigns to improve supplement education and safety.
