CHAD'S STORY
USMC FORCE RECON VETERAN
Chad's remarkable journey is a testament to his unwavering dedication to serving those in need. A USMC Force Recon Veteran and DoD Contractor, Chad served eight deployments to Afghanistan as part of a Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) Task Force. However, his story goes far beyond his experiences on the battlefield; it's a narrative of resilience, redemption, and a mission to serve those in need.
Beyond his military career, Chad has dedicated himself to safeguarding our nation as a Special Agent with the US Federal Air Marshal Service. He also lent his expertise to the US State Department, where he served as a Surveillance Detection Senior Program Manager. His actions during an on duty shooting in law enforcement led him to be awarded the Medal of Valor, an acknowledgment of his extraordinary bravery that exceeded the call of duty.
He holds an MBA from the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) and is currently completing a graduate program in nonprofit management at Harvard University, underscoring his dedication to excellence. Furthermore, he's a board-certified pastoral counselor by the American Association of Christian Counselors specializing in helping individuals navigate the complexities of PTSD.
After the battlefields of combat Chad faced the battle at home and a war within, including the haunting specter of PTSD, anxiety, and depression nearly becoming another veteran suicide statistic. Yet, through the grace of God and amazing support of friends and family, Chad’s redemption led him to find restoration, hope, and new purpose. That purpose led to a deep burden on his heart to pay it forward, manifesting in the founding of the Mighty Oaks Foundation. This leading non-profit organization has become a beacon of hope, providing faith-based peer led resiliency and recovery programs to military and first responder communities worldwide.
He has shared his insights and experiences with over 500,000 active-duty troops and led life-saving programs for over 5,000 active military and veterans at Mighty Oaks Ranches nationwide. His expertise in solutions to both resiliency and PTSD is widely recognized, with Chad advising at the highest levels of government such as the former Presidential Administration, Congress, the VA, and the DoD. His devotion to the cause is further exemplified through his position as Chairman of a White House Veterans Coalition.
friend
Chad's compassion and willingness to serve knows no bounds. He is also the Co-Founder of multiple non-profit coalitions and organizations focused on evacuating and recovering Americans and vulnerable people groups. In 2021, Chad notably led the effort to rescue Americans, our allies, and vulnerable individuals stranded during the US withdrawal of Afghanistan. What began as a personal quest to rescue a long-time friend and Afghan interpreter evolved into a full-fledged humanitarian operation. Under Chad's leadership, he and his team have successfully evacuated over 17,000 people from the hands of the Taliban. Since Afghanistan Chad has continued to organize and lead humanitarian efforts around the world to include his efforts to evacuate and provide support to those impacted in warzones like Ukraine.
bestselling author
Chad is a bestselling author and has written several books related to overcoming life’s challenges, his humanitarian work and will soon be releasing his first a military thriller fiction series. Through Chad’s work at Mighty Oaks, he has donated over 350,000 copies of his books to military and first responders during his resiliency speaking tours. Chad is a Fox News Contributor as an Op-ed author and is regularly featured as a guest on a range of national media outlets and top podcasts. Chad’s personal story was notably shared in two separate short films by I Am Second, as well as being featured in the documentaries: Never Fight Alone, Escape from Afghanistan, Send Me, and Black Rifle Coffee: Stories of Survival. Currently, a major motion picture movie is being produced based on Chad’s #1 best-selling book, Saving Aziz.
pro mma champion
Chad is a former Professional MMA Champion and #6 World Ranked Fighter with an 18-2 professional record, 17 of his wins coming by way of submission. A lifelong martial artist, he holds black belts in multiple disciplines to include a 4th Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under the legendary Carlson Gracie Jr. At the rank of black belt Chad still competes internationally and has won gold and silver medals at the IBJJF International Open, gold at the IBJJF American Nationals, and bronze at the IBJJF Pan Ams.
IN CHAD'S WORDS:
"I’ve learned so much through time of being a martial artist and even more so a competitor. I’ve often been asked how I feel about fighting as a Christian. I get the curiosity and conflict people see. After a life of seeing too much trauma I hate violence. YET, martial arts competition to me is a sport, like soccer to
some, it is a fight by willing participants and most times rooted in the highest level of respect for your opponent (even if it’s hidden by unnecessary words or bravado). For me the fight was never against an opponent, thankfully I’ve never once had I’ll will towards a competitor, the fight was always against myself. In hard training or competition every day is a fight to challenge and push myself for growth in my mind, my body and in my soul. It is something I will always do and helps me to overcome the fight I face daily to become the man I was created to be. Every day I fight."
father & husband
Chad and his wife Kathy have been married for 28 years and have two sons, two daughters and three granddaughters. In the Robichaux family, the legacy of the service runs over 80 years from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan. Chad’s father was the first Marine in the family and his son’s Hunter and Hayden proudly continued the tradition as 3rd generation Marines and also share Chad's lifelong dedication to martial arts. Chad's life is a tapestry woven with love, family, martial arts excellence, and a legacy of service that spans generations.
