Rodney began his professional career as an officer and attorney in the United States Air Force. He later served as Legislative Counsel at the Pentagon and as an Assistant United States Attorney. Selected as a White House Fellow, he served at NASA, working alongside senior government leaders on national policy and strategic initiatives. Today, he continues his commitment to the White House Fellows community as Vice President of the White House Fellows Foundation and Association.

 

After government service, Rodney joined Chick-fil-A, where he became an officer of the company, founded the Chick-fil-A Foundation, and led Chick-fil-A’s Global Corporate Social Responsibility function. His work brought together business strategy, philanthropy, community engagement, and partnerships to address some of the most persistent challenges facing communities.

 

His leadership has earned recognition throughout his career. Georgia Trend has repeatedly named him among Georgia’s most influential leaders, including its 100 Most Influential Georgians and Top 500 Most Influential Georgians. Atlanta Magazine has recognized him among Atlanta’s most powerful leaders, and the Atlanta Business Chronicle named him one of Atlanta’s “Most Admired CEOs.” He has also received the Leadership Georgia Dale Threadgill Community Service Award, been named Duke Law Young Alumnus of the Year, and received the Presidential Leadership Scholars designation.

 

Rodney serves on the boards of Ameris Bank, the Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation, the White House Fellows Foundation & Association, and United Way of Greater Atlanta. He is also an Emeritus Board Member of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Westside Future Fund. He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and Duke University School of Law and has completed executive education at Harvard Business School and Stanford Law School.

 

Rodney is the author of the bestselling Heroes Wanted: Why the World Needs You to Live Your Heart Out and is currently working on his next book.

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For all the titles and institutions that have shaped his career, Rodney remains deeply connected to where his story began. He and his family call the Atlanta area home, and much of his work continues to be guided by a simple idea he learned growing up in Decatur: people and institutions may come from different places and perspectives, but progress happens when we find ways to work together in the same house.