Episode 17: Wellness Program Management and Fit-to-Enforce with Kelly Kennedy

Kelly Kennedy is one of the OGs in Tactical, and I had the honor of meeting her by accident at a restaurant and all because of a green backpack!In Episode 17, we talk about her long career as a civilian health and wellness expert for the largest police agency in the southwestern United States and her personal business Fit-to-Enforce.  We also discuss her lessons learned, the obstacles she's faced, and that sometimes the most valuable part of attending a training or a conference is hearing from other attendees and learning through them.Kelly Kennedy, Ph.D., is one of the nation’s leading experts in fitness training for police. While working at the largest Police Department in the Southeast United States, she has physically trained and tested thousands of police recruits and officers since 1999. During this time, she has lectured on physical fitness to classes for Police, Corrections, and specialized units such as the Special Response Team, Rapid Deployment Force (RDF), and Defensive Tactics Instructor.She led the design of an extensive tactical obstacle course and was a part of a committee to create a pretest physical fitness screening for the members of the RDF. Additionally, she created a physical screening standard for readiness for the Aviation Unit, and Marine Patrol Unit. She served as the project manager of a team of physiologists in developing the minimum standards for fitness for the job of Police officer, K-9 Unit, and Special Response Team.In 2003, she started an education and consulting company, Fit-to-Enforce that takes her all over the country teaching and consulting law enforcement. She has worked as a Subject Matter Expert in physical fitness for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. She has served on the editorial review for the Tactical Strength and Conditioning Report. In addition, she has presented at Conferences for the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA), International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), Tactical Strength and Conditioning Conference (TSAC), and Florida SWAT Association.After graduating with a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology, she worked as an adjunct instructor at Florida International University for five years.Kelly is certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) as a Certified Exercise Physiologist, and Certified by the International Society of Sports Nutrition (CISSN). She is a past certified Level 1 Sport Performance Coach from USAW, for 10 years was a Level 1 CrossFit Instructor, is currently Certified as a Defensive Tactics Instructor, is a member of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association, and earned a Ph.D. in Global Leadership from Lynn University.So what? Now what?No matter the size of your agency, you CAN make an impact.  If you're a  LEO and want to learn more about health and wellness for your population, check out KK's 40-hour class.Connect with Kelly...LinkedInFacebook WebsiteEmail KellyCircle back and hear what Jay Dawes had to say about the evolution of NSCA Tactical*****Register for 7-Minute Science herePurchase FRW Swag hereGet on the Waitlist for Building Your Career in FireFollow Fire Rescue Wellness on the socials...IG | LinkedIn | TwitterDiscount Code:FRW20 at Fluid NutritionAffiliate LinksCheck out my Fringe Affiliate LinkCheck out my TryCreate Affiliate Link (20% off your order)!Check out my ChiliSleep Affiliate Link (15% off your order)!Please rate, share, and subscribe to the podcast!