Meet Adaptive Athlete: Rob Ballard

Rob grew up in Matthews, North Carolina, where sports filled nearly every part of his childhood. From football and basketball to water skiing and golf, he thrived on competition and community, supported by a close-knit and loving family. His passion for athletics carried into adulthood, shaping both his mindset and his leadership as a Naval officer.

 

On August 19, 2021, while serving as a Navy helicopter instructor pilot in Milton, Florida, Rob was involved in a crash that left him with a complete T11 spinal cord injury. At the time, he had been serving for 19 years after commissioning from the Naval Academy in 2002. Following trauma surgery in Pensacola, he spent months at Shepherd Center in Atlanta and the Tampa VA SCI Center, enduring the challenges of recovery largely without family by his side due to COVID restrictions. Through it all, his wife and children remained his greatest source of strength.

 

Rob’s 21-year Navy career took him across the world, including deployments to the Middle East and assignments in Bahrain and South Korea. A lifelong athlete, he has never stopped pursuing new challenges. Through adaptive training, he hopes to continue learning, pushing himself physically and mentally, and most importantly, being the best husband and father he can be.

 

Kaizen Adaptive Training