ABOUT US

Mitch Depner, M.S., CSCS, USAW
Mitch Depner is a seasoned leader in human performance and athletic administration with over two decades of experience across military, collegiate, and tactical environments. He currently serves as the Program Director for the U.S. Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) initiative at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, where he leads a multidisciplinary team of 36 professionals, including physical therapists, strength coaches, dietitians, athletic trainers, and behavioral health specialists. Under his leadership, he has increased medical deployability using proven human performance methodologies—helping units reach 99% deployability and boosting Ranger Regiment and Special Forces Selection rates by more than 70%. His programs have decreased injury rates in some units by up to 89%, increased return-to-duty and deployability rates by 7%, and generated more than $42 million in salary savings for the Department of Defense.

Mitch has played a crucial role in transforming Army readiness through innovative policy development, facility design, and large-scale resource acquisition—overseeing more than $35 million in infrastructure investments, including the Ghost Performance Center, a 90,000-square-foot training and treatment facility serving over 2,500 soldiers weekly. Prior to his military work, Mitch led championship-caliber strength and conditioning programs across the Big Sky Conference, Mountain West, and PAC-12, where his evidence-based systems produced record-setting performances, significant injury reductions, and over a dozen championship titles.

Throughout his career, Mitch has trained Super Bowl MVPs, world champions, and Olympians, and is widely recognized for unifying elite athletic performance with tactical operational readiness. A former law enforcement officer with C.E.R.T. (Correctional Emergency Response Team) training, he brings a firsthand understanding of the physical and mental demands placed on tactical professionals. As the owner and founder of The Rack Strong LLC, he delivers high-impact, data-driven training programs to tactical athletes, first responders, and the general public through his online performance platform. His expertise and results have earned him speaking invitations at national events, including the NSCA Tactical Strength and Conditioning (TSAC) Conference.

Mitch holds a Master’s degree in Athletic Administration and Physical Education from Idaho State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Physiology from California State University, Fresno. He is also a former collegiate athlete and Hall of Fame inductee at the institution he attended. Mitch continues to advance the integration of strength, health, and readiness across athletic, military, and tactical domains.

AUSTIN PEARSON, MS, CSCS, TSAC-F
Austin Pearson is a dedicated human performance professional with over a decade of experience advancing the physical readiness, injury resilience, and operational capability of tactical and athletic populations. His mission is to elevate human performance through a holistic, evidence-based approach that integrates strength and conditioning, recovery, and human optimization strategies.

Currently serving as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach with the U.S. Air Force Operational Support Team at Beale Air Force Base, Austin develops and implements base-wide performance programs, mentors Physical Training Leaders, and establishes long-term policies integrating strength and conditioning with medical and behavioral health practices. His work directly supports mission readiness by optimizing physical performance, reducing injuries, and aligning training with operational tempo.

Previously, Austin served as the Installation Lead Brigade Strength and Conditioning Coach for GAP Solutions at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, overseeing a staff of more than 90 performance professionals and programming for over 5,000 U.S. Army Soldiers. Under his leadership, injury rates dropped dramatically, and performance outcomes for specialized units—such as Ranger School candidates and Best Ranger teams—showed measurable improvements, including a 74% increase in readiness metrics and a top-three national finish in 2024. A recipient of the Department of the Army Civilian Service Achievement Medal among some of Austin’s accomplishments.

Austin’s diverse experience includes leading roles at Reef Systems, TWIST Performance + Wellness, and ATP Performance, as well as collegiate strength and conditioning positions within the NCAA Division I level. As Co-Owner of The Rack Strong LLC, he continues to expand his impact by delivering large-scale tactical fitness programming across military organizations.

A former head performance coach and university fitness coordinator, Austin has trained thousands of athletes and service members—ranging from Division I competitors to elite tactical operators. His programs consistently enhance mission performance, reduce injury risk, and strengthen the synergy between physical and mental resilience.

Austin holds both a Master of Science in Kinesiology (Strength & Conditioning emphasis) and a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Western Illinois University. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator (TSAC-F) through the National Strength and Conditioning.

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Email

therackstrong@gmail.com