Behind The Shield Melissa Mercado (Strength and Conditioning, Programming for the Tactical Athlete and Teambuildr) - Episode 1032
Melissa Mercado is a tactical athlete strength and conditioning coach and the Tactical Manager for Teambuildr. We discuss her journey into coaching, training Marines, the Wounded Warrior Battalion, nutrition, sleep and performance, wearables, disceminating prorgamming to the first responder population, spiritual wellbeing and much more.
Melissa holds a Bachelor of Science from Radford University and a Master of Science from Liberty University. Her career began with three collegiate internships at Radford University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Clemson University. She then transitioned into the tactical field as a Fitness Specialist at Marine Corps Base Quantico, where she played a key role in the Force Fitness Instructor Course, developing curriculum and instructing future FFIs and FFITs.During her time at Quantico, Melissa met her husband Matt, a United States Marine.
Their journey led them to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where Melissa started out working at Wounded Warrior Battalion-East. She then most recently, served as a Strength and Conditioning Coach at the School of Infantry-East, for the Marine Combat Instructor Course and Headquarters and Support Battalion. Now residing in Tampa, Florida, where Matt is stationed at MacDill Air Force Base,
Melissa is excited to bring her experience and fresh perspective to TeamBuildr. Outside of work, Melissa enjoys sunrise runs, discovering new coffee shops, lifting heavy things, walking her dog Wyatt, and cheering on the Pittsburgh Steelers and Clemson Tigers. GO TIGERS and STEELERS!