ECHELON FRONT - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Leadership Instructor
- Navy SEAL Officer
Andrew is a former Navy SEAL Officer and reservist with over 17 years of total service and now a leadership instructor with Echelon Front. A graduate of Vanderbilt University, he was commissioned in 2001 and graduated from SEAL training with Echelon Front Co-Founder, Leif Babin.
He then made several combat deployments to Iraq both as the OIC of a Naval Special Warfare special boat team detachment and as the assistant platoon commander for Delta Platoon, Task Unit Bruiser in 2006 where he served alongside fellow leadership instructors Leif Babin, JP Dinnell, and TU Bruiser Commander, Jocko Willink. Andrew experienced the lessons from the Battle of Ramadi firsthand and under the leadership and mentorship of both Leif and Jocko. He learned to lead men in combat operations against the enemy, employ the laws of combat, and how to lead both up and down the chain of command.
In 2007, Andrew left active duty and transitioned to the business world where he built a successful mortgage business. His experience in business ranges from sales to operations and management for the last 13 years.
Andrew brings unique experiences in both combat and business applications as they relate to the leadership principles of Extreme Ownership. Andrew is the recipient of a Bronze Star Medal w/ "V", an Army Commendation Medal w/ "V" and various other combat and meritorious awards.
Carlos is a retired Navy SEAL who started his Naval career as a medic with the Marines where he completed two deployments. Upon his completion of BUD/s he was assigned to SEAL Team One where he served as the medic, primary sniper, and point man and completed deployments to Southeast Asia, Iraq, Central America, and Afghanistan.
Carlos then served under Jocko as the lead instructor in charge of teaching Close Quarter Combat for all of the West Coast SEAL Teams. During his time there, Carlos was chosen for the prestigious Seaman to Admiral program through which the SEAL Teams cut the members away to complete their undergrad degree and come back as an officer. Former recipients of this award include Jocko Willink and Jonny Kim.
After completing his undergrad degree in finance at the University of San Diego, Carlos came back to complete two more deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan as the Assistant Officer in Charge and the Officer in Charge at both SEAL Team Three and Special Reconnaissance Team One.
Carlos finished his Naval career as the Executive Officer for SEAL Training command. After separating from the service and before joining Echelon Front, Carlos completed his MBA from the Anderson School of Management at UCLA and worked as an investment banker.
Job Titles:
- Director of Experiential Training
Codey Gandy is a former U.S. Marine, and currently a leadership instructor, speaker, and strategic advisor for Echelon Front. Codey spent just over 5 years working as a ground combat leader for various units in the Marine Corps.
He brings unmatched experience in demonstrating combat leadership in dynamic environments, building winning teams, and developing relationships across all levels of an organization.
Codey has seen first-hand the power of the leadership lessons taught at Echelon Front. He brings a unique front-line perspective as he served in several levels of enlisted leadership, starting as a front-line designated marksman and finished his time in service as a Platoon Sergeant.
In his role, he constantly was finding innovative ways to improve training and challenge his guys in preparation for the real-world battlefield. Upon his discharge from the Marine Corps, Codey joined Echelon Front while providing unmatched experience and unique perspective into combat leadership, front-line leadership, and creating winning teams.
He serves as the Experiential Training Program's Operation Manager, 1st Responder Training Lead, leadership instructor, speaker, and strategic advisor at Echelon Front.
Job Titles:
- Instructor
- Instructor Testimonials
Cordell Bennigson is a former U.S. Marine Corps officer, pilot, and forward air controller. Since leaving active duty, he has led, transformed, and sold multiple private equity owned companies as CEO while also serving as an advisor and leadership instructor with Echelon Front.
In the Marine Corps, Cordell flew the AV-8B Harrier and achieved the rank of Major. During Operation Iraqi Freedom he was an Air Officer and Forward-Air Controller with the First Marine Division and Task Force Tripoli during the fight to Baghdad and into Tikrit.
Since leaving the Marine Corps, Cordell has led business teams in the United States and around the world in a wide variety of industries, roles, and companies. Within these companies his leadership style, which embraces and implementes Extreme Ownership, enabled him to excel and deliver results as he progressed from General Manager to Vice President, and ultimately to multiple roles as CEO.
As a CEO, he has led companies through the challenges of growth, recession, global market shifts, business integration, cultural transformation, M&A transactions, and the wide range of challenges and opportunities encountered by teams in today's market.
Cordell earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at Berkeley, holds a Master's in Business Administration from Harvard Business School, and completed the Developing a Leading-Edge Operations Strategy Executive Program at the M.I.T. Sloan School of Business.
Cordell brings a blend of Marine Corps, combat, and extensive private-industry leadership to the Echelon Front team. He continues to provide leadership within private companies today, and has first-hand experience with the power, effectiveness, and challenges of implementing a culture of Extreme Ownership within business teams.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Development
- Support Instructor
Corey Mize joined Echelon Front in 2021 as a member of the Leadership Development and Alignment Program. She is currently the Extreme Ownership Academy Director and Sustainment Training Manager.
After earning her degree in Computer Science, Corey spent several years working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where she worked her way up from software developer to project manager of multiple teams.
During her time in the Corps, she also had the opportunity to lead a team of internal Extreme Ownership trainers that focused on embedding a culture of EO within their organization.
Before joining Echelon Front, Corey left the Corps to lead Base Camp Coding Academy as its Executive Director, and she was also a part-time instructor of freshman and senior-level courses at both Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi.
Here at Echelon Front, Corey is responsible for directing our online Academy while also developing training curriculums for our clients, managing our sustainment training programs, and assisting with instruction.
Job Titles:
- Leadership Team Related to This Instructor
Job Titles:
- Chief Development Officer
- Retired US Marine Corps Officer
- US Marine Corps Officer
Dave Berke is a retired US Marine Corps Officer, TOPGUN Instructor, and now a leadership instructor and speaker with Echelon Front, where he serves as Chief Development Officer. As a F/A-18 pilot, he deployed twice from the USS John C Stennis in support of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He spent three years as an Instructor Pilot at TOPGUN where he served as the Training Officer, the senior staff pilot responsible for the conduct of the TOPGUN course.
He then served as an ANGLICO Forward Air Controller supporting the Army's 1st Armored Division during extensive urban combat operations on the ground in Ramadi, Iraq in 2006. Dave led his supporting arms liaison team on scores of combat missions into the most dangerous neighborhoods and accompanied SEAL Task Unit Bruiser on virtually every major operation in the Battle of Ramadi.
He was the only Marine selected to fly the F-22 Raptor having served as an exchange officer at the Air Force's 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron as the Division Commander. He became the first operational pilot ever to fly and be qualified in the F-35B, serving as the Commanding Officer of the Marine Corps' first F-35 squadron from 2012-2014.
Upon his retirement from the Marine Corps, Dave joined Echelon Front providing unmatched experience and a unique perspective on combat leadership, analytical decision making, risk mitigation, and creating winning teams.
He serves as Echelon Front's Chief Development Officer, as well as a leadership instructor, speaker, and strategic advisor.
Jamie Cochran joined Leif Babin and Jocko Willink as the first employee at Echelon Front in 2014. She quickly expanded her initial role as Director of Operations and was named Chief Operating Officer in early 2021.
After earning her degree in Business Marketing and Communications, Jamie served in leadership positions in several organizations to include Glacier Bay, a boutique hedge fund as the Client Relations Director; San Diego State University as a Programs Director; and Tiffany & Company as a Visual Creative Director.
Here at Echelon Front, she leads a diverse team that oversees all business operations and events. Her team also coordinates Echelon Front engagements across the globe, ensuring a world-class client experience. Jamie embraces the mindset of Extreme Ownership and implements it across all aspects of her business and life.
As a speaker and Leadership Instructor, she makes the connection between the combat leadership principles of Extreme Ownership and how she implements them in her life as a business leader, woman, mother of three, and wife of a former Navy SEAL.
Jason Gardner is a former U.S. Navy SEAL, combat leader, and now a leadership instructor and speaker with Echelon Front. Jason spent nearly three decades in the SEAL Teams with nine deployments across the globe. With experience operating in violent cities in both Iraq and Afghanistan, Jason has seen first-hand the power of the leadership lessons taught at Echelon Front. He brings perspective from every level of leadership from a front line SEAL sniper to the SEAL Team FIVE Command Master Chief .
As the Command Master Chief of Naval Special Warfare Group One Training Detachment, he created and implemented realistic and challenging special operations combat training to better prepare SEAL units for the real-world battlefield. Throughout his career, he worked alongside Jocko, Leif, and several members of the Echelon Front team developing the same principles and mindsets taught to companies across every industry. He is the recipient of the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart and numerous other awards.
After his retirement from the US Navy, Jason brings unmatched experience with combat leadership in dynamic environments, building winning teams, and developing relationships across all levels of an organization. He serves as a leadership instructor, speaker, and strategic advisor at Echelon Front.
Dinnell is a former U.S. Navy SEAL and now a Leadership Instructor, Speaker and Strategic Advisor with Echelon Front, where he serves as Chief Training Officer. J.P. is also a pro team athlete and spokesperson for Origin Maine and Jocko Fuel, an American clothing and supplement company. J.P. has a signature Energy Drink flavor "Sour Apple Sniper" with Jocko Fuel.
JP Dinnell is a former U.S. Navy SEAL and now a Leadership Instructor, Speaker and Strategic Advisor with Echelon Front, where he serves as Chief Training Officer.
Leif Babin - Founder, President
Leif Babin is a former U.S. Navy SEAL officer, co-author of #1 New York Times bestseller Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win, & Co-founder of Echelon Front, where he serves as President, leadership instructor, speaker, and strategic advisor.
A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Leif served thirteen years in the Navy, including nine in the SEAL Teams. As a SEAL platoon commander in SEAL Team Three's Task Unit Bruiser, he planned and led major combat operations in the Battle of Ramadi that helped the "Ready First" Brigade of the US Army's 1st Armored Division achieve victory. Task Unit Bruiser became the most highly decorated special operations unit of the Iraq War.
Leif returned from combat and became the primary leadership instructor for all officers graduating from the SEAL training pipeline. There, he reshaped SEAL leadership training to better prepare the next generation of SEAL officers for the immense challenges of combat. During his last tour, Leif served as Operations Officer and Executive Officer at a SEAL Team where he again deployed to Iraq with a Special Operations Task Force. He is the recipient of the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, and a Purple Heart.
Upon his departure from active duty, Leif co-founded Echelon Front, a premier leadership consulting company that helps others build their own high-performance winning teams.
Leif is a former U.S. Navy SEAL officer, co-author of #1 New York Times bestseller Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win, and co-founder of Echelon Front, serving as President.
Job Titles:
- LDAP Program Manager and Leadership Instructor
Meg Miller spent time coaching at Brown University with the women's lacrosse team from 2004-2016. She also worked in the business office and was the head lacrosse coach at an independent school before joining the Echelon Front team. As a coach, Meg worked with all areas of the game over the course of her coaching career including offense, defense, and goalies. She also served as the Bears' recruiting coordinator for several years.
As a college athlete, Meg was a two-time All-South Region selection and a two-time Second Team All-American while with the Blue Devils. She earned All-ACC honors as a senior and was named to the All-ACC Tournament Team in 2003 and 2004. She helped to lead the Blue Devils to the NCAA Tournament for four straight years.
A 2004 graduate of Duke University with a B.A. in Psychology, Meg also holds a Master's degree in Holistic Leadership from Salve Regina University in Rhode Island.
Meg joined Echelon Front full time in May of 2021 and currently serves as LDAP Program Manager and Women's Assembly coordinator.
Job Titles:
- Instructor
- Combat Engineer
Rob Jones is a retired US Marine, combat leader, and now a leadership instructor and speaker with Echelon Front. He spent five years in the Marine Corps, with deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan.
As a Combat Engineer, Rob specialized in finding hidden Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), the enemy's most deadly weapons. On a mission in July of 2010, while executing an IED sweep, Rob stepped on an IED, which resulted in double above knee amputations of his legs. He spent the next year and a half in physical therapy before retiring from the Marine Corps in 2011. Upon his retirement, Rob was forced to adapt to a new way of being a leader. To do this, he turned to the world of sports.
In 2012, he competed in the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, England, bringing home a bronze medal in rowing. In 2013, he became the first double above knee amputee to ride a bicycle across the United States, riding 5,181 miles from Bar Harbor, Maine to Camp Pendleton, California. In 2017, he ran 31 marathons in 31 consecutive days in 31 different cities.
Throughout this journey, Rob has relied upon the principles taught at Echelon Front to turn the darkest moment of his life into a life of impact-more meaningful than he ever could have expected. Rob now brings his experience to Echelon Front to help teams of people take Extreme Ownership and overcome the challenges they face in business and in life.
Sean Glass is a former U.S. Navy SEAL officer, combat leader, and now a leadership instructor with Echelon Front. Sean spent 13 years in the SEAL Teams with three combat deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Eastern Africa. He led five SEAL platoons in Iraq against Islamic State forces during some of the most dynamic and demanding environments where he saw first-hand the power of leadership on the battlefield. Sean returned from Iraq to serve as Officer-in-Charge of training for all West Coast SEAL Teams where he spearheaded the development of leadership training and personally instructed and mentored the next generation of SEAL leaders.
Sean left active duty in 2019 and became the Chief Operating Officer of a successful venture capital backed construction technology startup, where he helped scale the company's growth and established a highly successful decentralized, team-first culture.
Sean then joined Echelon Front where he serves as a leadership instructor, bringing unique front-line perspective that blends tactical and executive leadership experience from the military and business environments to help build high performance, winning teams that thrive in ambiguous, adverse conditions.
Steve Ward is a former U.S. Navy SEAL, combat leader and currently a leadership instructor at Echelon Front. Steve spent almost 30 years in the SEAL Teams with eleven deployments across the globe.
Steve brings unmatched experience in demonstrating combat leadership in dynamic environments, building winning teams, and developing relationships across all levels of an organization. Steve operated in violent urban environments in both Iraq and Afghanistan, seeing first-hand the power of applying the leadership lessons taught at Echelon Front.
Steve was one of the head leaders of his Task Unit when they relieved Task Unit Bruiser in Ramadi in October 2006. When he returned from that deployment he went to work for Jocko as a head leader running Land Warfare Training for all four West Coast SEAL Teams. In this role, he managed high risk evolutions and consistently innovated training techniques to increase effectiveness to SEAL units preparing for combat deployments overseas.
Steve brings a unique front-line perspective coupled with executive leadership experience, starting his military career as a front-line SEAL operator, and working his way up through numerous leadership positions within the SEAL Community to include tactical leadership positions all the way up to becoming one of the head leaders running a SEAL Team and culminating into becoming one of the head leaders of all four West Coast SEAL Teams.
Steve understands how to bring a team together, work through challenges and setting high standards. He is the recipient of three Bronze Stars, two Defense Meritorious Service Medals and four Meritorious Service Medals and numerous other awards. He serves as a leadership instructor, speaker, and strategic advisor at Echelon Front.