Charley Rodriguez

Name: Charley Rodriguez
City/State: Nashville, TN
Branch of Service: US Air Force
Years of Service: 2015-2021
Last Rank Held: E-5
Military Occupation: Weather Forecaster/ Predict the future state of the atmosphere in order to protect and enable.

Tell us a little about you outside of the military:

I grew up in a village on the NM-TX border that made me very involved in just about everything in school and my community from sports, FFA, BPA, and church groups. I try to carry that into my life now as well being active now in Nashville with sports, community organizing, charity, political events.

Why are you joining the IAVA Cavalry?

I believe more than ever now veterans should be engaged in our democracy and paying attention to what is going on in DC and approach things from a stoic angle. One of the main reasons is because of all the allegations, rumors, misinformation, and false information circulating that has many veterans on edge and worried for everyone’s well being not just veterans.

How did your military experience shape you to be the person you are today? 

It definitely showed me what type of leader I didn’t want to be and gave me processes and strategy that I apply in my work today.

Which one of IAVA’s policy priorities for you believe is the most pressing? Why?

Democracy as explained above in why I joined, and Reproductive Care. Watching the treatment and denial of medical treatment that could improve my partners life (She was AD) really showcased how ignorant and borderline cruel people can be. The most ignorant ones are the loudest and most detrimental. Education is key and for everyone in order to silence the people that are not educated.

Which one of IAVA’s policy priorities do you have the strongest personal connection to? Why? 

Reproductive Care. Having a partner that suffered just about everyday from a severe and chronic form of endometriosis really opened my eyes to what reproductive care and how much more is needed for a woman’s body throughout their life, I now know that I was very ignorant before that relationship and didn’t just learn from her medical journey but how people treated her and downplayed her pain and story. I feel that not enough men understand nor do they want to but must. If I’ve learned anything in community organizing is that the best organizer is the person you know to get through to people. It shouldn’t just be women but Fathers, Grandfathers, Uncles, Sons, and Brothers talking and advocating for reproductive care.