Dare to Lead! Chelsea Burkart is a veteran sports rd that will inspire you to lead with vulnerability and courage. Chelsea will remind you of the power of feedback and the secret to opening up the next door! 

Chelsea Burkart is a Performance Dietitian for U.S. Naval Special Warfare, working to optimize combat readiness, health, and career longevity for Navy SEALs. She has been in the position for close to two years and absolutely loves her job.  Before her time in the U.S. Special Forces setting, Chelsea worked in collegiate athletics for 10 years.

She started her career at the University of Florida as a graduate assistant before being hired into a full-time position with the Gators.  Chelsea then moved on for an opportunity to be the first full-time sports dietitian at the University of Illinois before following her husband, who is a strength coach, to James Madison University where she was able to work as their first full-time sports dietitian as well.  Their family then moved once more, and she had the opportunity to begin the sports nutrition program at Texas State University.

Chelsea was elected as a CPSDA Board member for three terms, during which she played an integral role in developing the Gatorade SNIP program from its inception before serving three years as CPSDA’s President from 2017-2020.

Chelsea’s service model in performance nutrition is to educate and empower athletes and special forces operators with knowledge and habits to optimize performance, recovery and longevity.  Burkart is recognized as a strong and influential leader within the profession and is deeply passionate about mentoring.

Chelsea lives in Virginia with her husband, Aaron, and two awesome and crazy little boys, Kelly and Tyson.