Service, Leadership,
and Advocacy.
Chad is a combat veteran, public servant, and passionate advocate for veterans, first responders, and mental health. He serves as Mayor of the City of Choctaw, Oklahoma, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer for Choctaw-Nicoma Park Public Schools, and as a member of the Boards of Directors for both RECON-nect and the Choctaw Area Chamber of Commerce. Prior to entering education, Chad spent more than a decade serving as a civilian with the United States Air Force.
Chad proudly served in the United States Marine Corps with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, deploying to Iraq, taking part in the Battle of Fallujah and later to Afghanistan. Those experiences, coupled with his own journey through post-traumatic stress, gave him a deeply personal understanding that some of life’s toughest battles begin long after the battlefield is left behind.
After losing fellow veterans to suicide, Chad launched a veteran suicide awareness campaign in 2014 dedicated to reducing stigma, increasing awareness, and expanding access to mental health resources. His mission has remained steadfast: to ensure every veteran and first responder knows that asking for help is an act of courage and that no one should ever have to face their struggles alone.
As a member of the RECON-nect Board of Directors, Chad is committed to advancing innovative mental health care, strengthening peer support, and expanding access to life-saving resources that reconnect veterans and first responders with hope, purpose, and healing.