Meet the Ready Swimmer Team

Stephen Gonzalez

Steve is a retired U.S. Coast Guard helicopter rescue swimmer (RS) and the author of The Hero Factory: The Untold Story of Helicopter Rescue Swimmer School. With over a decade of coaching experience, he specializes in tactical athlete populations teaching the men and women who serve our country and protect our streets how to ready themselves for the demands of duty.

As Rescue Swimmer, he was responsible for prosecuting search and rescue in heavy seas, swift-water, urban flood response, cliff-side recovery, and backcountry deployment. For five years, Steve served as an RS instructor where he had the privilege of training more than 50% of the fleet's operational rescue swimmer assets, while also being responsible for developing the six-month physical training program for the Coast Guard's Rescue Swimmer School. In addition to coaching, he is the owner and head instructor of 1441 Jiu Jitsu. He is a father of three and resides in Virginia with his wife Kristin.

  • NSCA Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist, CSCS

  • NSCA Tactical Strength & Conditioning Facilitator, TSAC-F

  • Precision Nutrition Coach, Pn1

  • Westside Barbell Special Strengths Certificate

  • CrossFit Level 1, CF1

  • National Registry Emergency Medical Technician, EMT

  • EXOS Tactical Strength & Conditioning

  • Krav Maga Yashir Combatives Instructor

  • ERI Aviation Rescue Survival Instructor

Bret Fogle

At 20 years old, Bret's natural love for the ocean and itch for adventure led him to join the United States Coast Guard to become a helicopter rescue swimmer. During his 20 years of service, Bret has documented more than 300 lives saved or assisted from numerous hurricanes, ice-cold water, alligator-infested swamps, and urban disasters like Hurricane Katrina. His last four years in the Coast Guard, Bret was a helicopter rescue swimmer instructor at the AST “A” School.

Bret has spent the past 10 years as a student of the human body to include strength and conditioning, rehabilitation, studying optimal movement patterns, speed, power, mobility, nutrition, sleep, and regeneration. He now owns a gym in Asheville, NC, where he resides with his wife and two kids.

  • NSCA Tactical Strength & Conditioning Facilitator, TSAC-F

  • StrongFirst Kettlebell Instructor, SFG-1

  • Reflexive Performance Reset Coach

  • CrossFit Level 2, CF2

  • Crossfit Endurance, CFE

  • Crossfit Mobility, CFM

  • Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician, EMT

  • American Heart Association CPR Instructor

  • Check Institutes Holistic Wellness Coach Certified

  • EXOS Tactical Strength & Conditioning Level 2

Are YOU Ready?

A Real Rescue Story.

Discover Bret Fogle's inspiring journey as a co-founder of Ready Swimmer. In this video, Bret shares how his rescue swimmer training and passion for mentorship drive our mission to help you achieve your fitness and personal goals. Watch now to learn more about the man behind Ready Swimmer.