Chaz Evanson is a Colorado native, born in Durango and raised in Cortez. From a young age, Chaz worked alongside his grandfather on ranches across the Western Slope, instilling in him the grit, responsibility, and work ethic that would define his life. He graduated from Montezuma-Cortez High School in 2000, where he participated in varsity football, track, and other sports. Shortly before graduation, Chaz enlisted in the United States Marine Corps under the delayed entry program. In June of 2000, he reported to boot camp in San Diego, beginning what would become a remarkable 20-year military career.

 

Chaz advanced from Private to Staff Sergeant and, in 2008, was accepted into the Warrant Officer program. By 2020, he had risen to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 4, one of only 16 in his occupational field across the Marine Corps. Over the course of two decades, Chaz served in a wide range of leadership position, from small unit operations to senior executive-level roles; earning respect as a forward-thinking leader and a tireless advocate for modernization.

 

In 2003, while stationed in Okinawa, Chaz met Barbara “Barb,” a fellow Marine. They married in February 2004, forming a marriage marked by shared sacrifice and service. Barb, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran herself, went on to serve 16 years in law enforcement, including as a patrol officer, SWAT team member, detective, field training officer, and firearms instructor. Together, the Evansons dedicated their lives to protecting and serving, both at home and abroad.

 

Their family grew in 2010 with the birth of their son, Troy, followed by their daughter, Lindsey, in 2015. The Evansons’ family journey has been marked by extraordinary trials and devotion to one another. In 2008, Barb was diagnosed with adult-onset Type 1 Diabetes and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, likely resulting from service-connected injuries. In 2009, Chaz was struck by a vehicle while training for a half Ironman, sustaining a broken femur and other life-threatening injuries. In 2015, during Lindsey’s birth, both mother and child nearly died due to complications but survived by the grace of God. In 2017, Chaz was hit again, this time while riding his motorcycle, resulting in the loss of his left foot. Each time, the family rose from adversity with resolve, supported and the steadfast love they share.

 

Despite these hardships, Chaz returned to duty each time, serving his country with honor and resilience until his retirement in 2020. After two decades of service, including overseas deployments, unaccompanied assignments, and long periods of family separation; Chaz returned to Colorado, settling on a small homestead in Western Colorado. There, the Evansons continue their legacy of service to community, faith, and family.

 

In retirement, Chaz has dedicated himself to restoring the time he sacrificed with his wife and children. He has taken a sabbatical to focus on his walk with Christ and has immersed himself in independent study, particularly in theology, American founding history, and constitutional law. He has studied the founding documents, historical writings, and correspondence of the nation’s early leaders, equipping himself to lead not just with passion, but with principle and purpose.

 

Now, feeling called to return to public service, Chaz Evanson stands ready to lead once again. Grounded in faith, seasoned by hardship, and strengthened by years of leadership at the highest levels, he offers Colorado a rare kind of servant leader: one who believes in the core tenants of Faith, Virtue and Freedom, who endures, and who always puts the mission, God, family, and country before himself.