Adversity — Podcast — Intentional Leader

I'm really excited to bring you the inspiring story of Chaveso "Chevy" Cook! On this episode, you will hear Chevy share his powerful story of overcoming adversity as a child and finding mentors that helped him believe in himself and chart the course that led to where he is today.

I’m really excited to bring you the inspiring story of Chaveso “Chevy” Cook!

On this episode, you will hear Chevy share his powerful story of overcoming adversity as a child and finding mentors that helped him believe in himself and chart a course of achievement, purpose, and contribution. Chevy is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Military Mentors, a registered 501(c)(3) with a mission to elevate, educate, and facilitate mentoring for the military and beyond.

Chevy graduated from West Point in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. He also has a M.A. in Leadership Development from the University of Texas El Paso, and an M.A. in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University. He currently lives in Boston, MA and is pursuing doctoral studies at Tufts University. He is also a visiting researcher at Harvard Kennedy School.

A long serving member of the special operations community, he started his Army career in the historic 82nd Airborne Division and has served the majority of his career at Fort Bragg, NC. He also served as both a Tactical Officer and a Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership instructor at West Point.

Chevy is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, Team Red, White, & Blue, the Council on Foreign Relations, and an Advisory Board Member at the Positivity Project. Chevy's work has been published in the International Mentoring Association, the Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corp Regimental Association, Armor Magazine, Journal of Character and Leadership Development, Military Review, Association of the United States Army, Infantry Journal, Joint Forces Quarterly, Small Wars Journal, Strategy Bridge, IO Sphere, White House Studies, and has a pending book under review with Texas A&M Press.

His military education includes the Command and General Staff Officer Course, Air Defense Artillery Captain’s Career and Basic Courses, PSYOP Qualification Course, Arabic Special Operations Language Training, SERE-C (High Risk), Basic and Advanced Airborne School, Air Assault School, MC-6/T-11 Jumpmaster Instructor Course, Gryphon Group Mobile Force Protection Course, Anti-Terrorism Basic Officer Course, Military Deception Planners Course, Anti-Terrorism Evasive Driver’s Course, Information Operations Capabilities and Applications Course, Contracting Officers Representative Course, Air Force Combat Airmen Skills Training/Joint Air Functional Course, and Combatives Level I.

Some of his awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (4th award), Joint Service Commendation Medal (2nd award), Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (2nd award), German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (Gold), German Parachutist Wings, Egyptian Parachutist Wings, Air Assault Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, the Major General Robert McClure Medal (Bronze), and the 2016 Secretary of the Army Diversity and Leadership Award.

Chevy is married to his high school sweetheart Ashley, and their beautiful daughters are London and Lola.

On this episode, we discuss:

Chevy’s story of overcoming childhood adversity [4:40]
- He and his brother moved houses when his father went to prison [6:00]
How he coped with all of the transition during his childhood [7:00]
The powerful relationship he has with his adoptive mother, Mama J [11:00]
- “She is evidence to me of a higher power because she embodies what I would think an angel would be in human form.”
Two teachers that mentored Chevy at a pivotal moment in his life [13:00]
- They asked Chevy where he wanted to be in 5 years.
How mentors helped him believe in himself in a way he never did before [16:45]
- “I was a broken little man.”
The power of questions between a mentor and mentee [18:15]
- “The answer is somewhere inside of you.”
The importance of follow-up, consistency, and resourcing in mentoring [19:45]
- A crucible moment has three components: (1) assess; (2) challenge; and (3) support.
- “The support piece is super important.”
How he processed his dad’s incarceration [23:00]
Processing anger from his childhood [28:00]
- “These stories are not my stories.”
- “I’ve come to believe that I’m not here to judge anybody.”
The biggest things he’s learned about character development during his PhD studies [32:30]
- Nature vs. nurture in character development
Practical takeaways for how to develop character [35:00]
How the leader can reinforce character development in the culture [37:30]
- “The leader has to become a student in organizational culture and organizational behavior.”
- The three layers of organizational culture: artifacts, espoused values, and shared basic assumptions.
The leader working in the organization vs. working on the organization [41:00]
A discussion about his top two book recommendations [45:00]