5 June 2025
Developing the Mind Behind the Mission
Supporting Soldiers from the Inside Out
When I step into my role each day, I think about how to help sharpen the mind behind the mission. My focus is to enhance how soldiers think under pressure, regulate emotions, and build cognitive skills that directly impact their performance and well-being. My approach is grounded in performance psychology, but the real work is making that theory functional for medics, helicopter pilots, and everyone in between. I tailor education, consulting, and training to build confidence, precision, and resilience in the moments that matter most.
Building Human Performance, One Mind at a Time
My day might include teaching a group on how to navigate stress without losing clarity or working one-on-one with a soldier preparing for a high-stakes assessment. It’s about helping them tap into mental frameworks that enhance skill acquisition, control physiological responses, and execute under conditions most people call overwhelming. My goal is to develop strong performers and adaptable and self-aware warfighters — people who know how to reset, refocus, and take control.
The Road to Becoming a Cognitive Performance Specialist
To be in this role, you need a deep understanding of human performance. For me, that meant pursuing a master’s degree in performance psychology, followed by hundreds of hours applying those skills with tactical and athletic populations. I also earned the Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) credential—a rigorous process that challenged me to sharpen not just my technical skills but also my ability to build trust, assess needs, and deliver meaningful outcomes in dynamic environments.
Reframing the Stress Response
One of the projects I’m most proud of is working with solders to reinterpret the physical signs of stress. Instead of seeing rapid heartbeat or shaky hands as signs of failure, we help them understand these are signals of readiness — the body gearing up for action. The idea is based on the Cognitive Activation Theory of Stress, changing how people relate to their physiological responses. We’re seeing fewer mental shutdown moments and more purposeful engagement.
Looking Ahead: Expanding Our Reach and Capabilities
Looking ahead, I’m continuing work to elevate how we prepare candidates preparing for selection and assessment psychologically. These soldiers are entering some of the most elite, demanding roles in the military, and they deserve psychological preparation that matches that level of intensity. I’m also planning to attend the Association for Applied Sport Psychology’s annual conference — it’s a chance to connect with other professionals who work in high-performance settings and stay sharp on emerging research. I aim to continue growing and hopefully present at the Tactical Performance Psychology Summit soon.
Bringing It All Together
At the heart of this work is a simple belief: when we strengthen how soldiers think, we empower how they fight, lead, and recover. Every lesson, every training session, every conversation is a chance to build clarity, confidence, and composure under pressure. As part of Team Geneva, I’m proud to serve alongside those who serve, helping deliver the cognitive edge that keeps our warfighters ready, not just for the next mission, but for the demands of a lifetime in service.
Are you a fitness professional looking for a new challenge?
If you’re passionate about human performance and want to apply your skills in a meaningful way, consider a career in tactical strength and conditioning.
Not sure where to start? Geneva can help. Let’s talk.
Email Talent@genevausa.org to start a conversation about how your fitness background can translate into a career that makes a real difference. We’ll connect you with experienced professionals in the field and guide you through the next steps.
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"My focus is to enhance how soldiers think under pressure, regulate emotions, and build cognitive skills that directly impact their performance and well-being."
Benjamin Harding, MS, CMPC