This week, Big Rich sits down with Todd Ockert—a 26-year U.S. Navy veteran turned oil-and-gas professional, land-use leader, NAMRAC facilitator, and indie author. From small-town Michigan to Top Gun-era Miramar, Todd shares how vocational electronics led him into Naval aviation, working on EA-6B Prowlers, a rough stint in recruiting, and later a long chapter at Lemoore before transitioning to Chevron and moving to West Texas.
Todd dives into his off-road journey: early Bronco days, discovering advocacy through Del Albright’s volunteer training, and leadership roles with UFWDA and the BlueRibbon Coalition. As facilitator of NAMRAC since 2018, he champions collaboration among Cal4, CORVA, ORBA, BRC, UPLA, and others—crediting that unity for recent land-use wins, including Moab route reopenings and improved coordination on Oceano Dunes.
In Texas, Todd supports TMTC’s mission at Barnwell Mountain and Escondido Draw, and previews the Rio Bravo acquisition near Houston. He explains RTP funding, Texas OHV sticker requirements, and why public land is scarce in the Lone Star State—making managed parks critical.
TRANSCRIPT
[00:01:13.000] – Big Rich Klein
This week’s guest is a 26-year Navy veteran, an off-road enthusiast and land use warrior, currently the NAMRAC facilitator, and a published author. My guest is Todd Ockert. Todd Ockert. It’s so good to have you on the podcast and get the chance to talk about your life and wheeling and everything else that you’ve done in your career up to now. And I’m looking forward to this.
[00:01:44.880] – Todd Ockert
Well, Rich, sometimes I say my life is boring. And when that, and like you’ve told me before, I’ve done a lot. And so I think other people… I try to not give myself credit. I give other people credit. But basically, I was born in Redlands, California. My parents moved there from Michigan before I was born. Lived there for three years, I think, four years. I was a little kid. I don’t remember when we were back, but we went back to Michigan. Grew up Until I went through Catholic high school, Catholic grade school. Hopefully, don’t go digging through my background because you might find something there that’s nice. I don’t know. But I graduated high school in 1982. Then, hung out in Michigan for a little bit. The auto industry crashed around that time frame. Happened to meet a Navy recruiter. He come into the little Mom and Pop grocery store I was working at. It’s 11 o’clock. We’re trying to close. He’s trying to get something caffeine-wise to drink to get him home. I talk to him. He’s like, I’m like, there’s nothing. My boss told me, I can’t go any higher. He can’t afford to pay me anymore.
[00:03:04.240] – Todd Ockert
I’ve been there three years, four years. I’m like, The Navy looks interesting. He’s like, I’d love to talk to you. I’m really tired. Here’s my card. Come see me in my office. Perfect. A couple of days later, I wandered into his office. Actually, I wandered into the Air Force office first and told him some of my background because I’d gone through a vocational electronics training for two years. Then they’re like, We think you’re too smart for us.
[00:03:36.960] – Big Rich Klein
The Air Force said that?
[00:03:38.820] – Todd Ockert
Yeah. We think you’re too smart for us.
[00:03:41.720] – Big Rich Klein
I can see the Marine Corps saying that.
[00:03:45.140] – Todd Ockert
Yeah, I was shocked. The Navy recruiter was just down the road. I’m like, Okay, I’ve not seen the Navy recruiter. Walked in, talked to him. Pretty often, Gaston. I don’t know how I can remember his name now, because that’s been, let’s see, in ’60, it would have been 20, 40 years ago. READ MORE
