Jovon P. Quarles was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up amid poverty and violence. He never knew his father, and his mother struggled with substance abuse. He was raised primarily by his grandparents, who — seeking a safer environment — relocated him to Cleveland, North Carolina. Quarles attended Rowan High School, where he was a standout athlete. After high school, he enlisted in the military, joining the U.S. Navy. 

Quarles later applied for SEAL training and graduated as the class Honorman — the top graduate during his second attempt. He became the first Black man to achieve this distinction. He went on to serve in the SEALs for over 15 years. This included participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom and completing top-secret missions under Operation Enduring Freedom. 

After retiring from active duty, he founded Elite SEAL Fit, a body-building, nutrition, and fitness programme designed to help civilians build SEAL-level resilience. He also joined Fox’s Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test as a Directing Staff instructor in 2023. Quarles is also a sought-after keynote speaker and is working on an autobiography titled Why Not Me?