Leadership Under Fire

Since its formal inception more than a decade ago, the LUF Team has championed professional reading as a cornerstone of leader development. LUF believes that a close study of history’s most accomplished, mission-oriented leaders reveals a common thread: a deep engagement with literature and disciplined professional reading. In 2022, LUF launched its inaugural book club. Since then, LUF’s online book clubs have served as a conduit for meaningful discourse, reflection, and critical thought across the profession. This episode is Part 2 of Senior Mentor Jim Roussell’s exploration of Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s The Black Swan, recorded during one of these book club discussions. Part 1 originally aired on August 21, 2024. In this continuation, Jim offers valuable insight into the leadership traits and organizational practices that enable mission-oriented leaders and units to adapt, endure, and succeed amid unpredictable and improbable events.

Lt Chris Horgan is a member of the FDNY, currently assigned to Ladder 20 in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan. He is a 20-year veteran of the department and previously served with Engine 84 and Ladder 34 in Washington Heights. In addition to his operational duties, Lt. Horgan has recently assumed a leadership role in the FDNY’s Mental Performance Initiative. He is a graduate of Villanova University and is an avid baseball player and lifelong fan of the game. Lt. Horgan resides in Rockland County with his wife.

Mike Rudasill serves as a Battalion Chief with the Baltimore City Fire Department (BCFD), assigned to the 3rd Battalion in West Baltimore. He joined the ranks of the BCFD in 1998 and has served in a variety of operational and leadership roles throughout his career, including Firefighter with Rescue Company 1, Lieutenant with Truck Company 2, and Captain with Engine Company 8. He was promoted to Battalion Chief in 2010. Chief Rudasill is a former United States Marine and holds a bachelor’s degree in Fire Science and Organizational Leadership from Waldorf University, as well as a Master of Public Administration from the University of Baltimore’s School of Public Policy. In addition to his operational responsibilities, Chief Rudasill serves as the Program Manager for the BCFD Mental Performance Initiative and oversees the development program for Baltimore City’s first-line and chief-level foreground commanders.

In this episode we are joined by LUF Founder Jason Brezler and LUF’s Senior Man James McNamara. We reflect on the impact and reach of the Leadership Under Fire TEAM’s efforts in 2025. The LUF team has maintained its commitment to humanizing and optimizing performance and leadership in today’s fire service and other high-risk industries through programs, research, and publications.

Dr. Dillon Caswell is a Board Certified Sports Specialist Doctor of Physical Therapy, Human Performance Coach, and Top-Selling Author, who utilizes hope and modern neuroscience to replace the ‘nopes’ we face and empower desiring lifelong athletes to reclaim their birthright of healthy and athletic. With the strategy of Hope, Dr. Dillon Caswell has guided a range of beginners up to world-class athletes including former NFL players, Top-level CrossFitters, D1-D3 College Athletes, Military Special-Ops, World-Touring Performing Artists, World-Ranked Track Athletes, World Ranked Strongmen and Powerlifters, and everyday people - regardless of age or experience.

Captain Will Jasper served in the Baltimore City Fire Department for 28 years, spending his career in some of the city’s busiest and most storied companies. He entered the Fire Academy on February 22, 1994, and upon graduation was assigned to Truck 14 in Northeast Baltimore. He soon transferred and spent the next seven years in some of Baltimore’s heaviest fire service companies, including Engine 52, Engine 8, and Engine 33. During this time, he was mentored by some of the BCFD’s most legendary and seasoned firefighters and officers. Throughout his career, Captain Jasper served with distinction, earning numerous commendations and awards. Promoted to Lieutenant in 2004, he was assigned to Engine 55 in Pigtown before transferring back to Engine 52. In 2009, he was promoted to Captain and took command of Engine 20 in Walbrook Junction, where he remained until his retirement in 2022. Captain Jasper was known as a mission-oriented leader with a deep well of operational experience. On the most challenging fires, he was the steadying presence that chief officers relied upon—offering calm, sound advice that helped bring order to chaotic scenes. Born on February 2, 1968, and raised in Northeast Baltimore’s Woodbourne neighborhood, Will attended Northern High School before entering the United States Army. He served honorably with the 82nd Airborne and the 2nd Infantry Division. Captain Jasper was a respected leader within the BCFD—admired by subordinates, peers, and supervisors for his composure under pressure and his unwavering dedication to the job. He mentored countless firefighters over nearly three decades, and the wisdom he shared continues to influence and strengthen the department today.

We’re joined today by LtCol Gareth “Kip” Hughes. Kip is a Naval Aviator by trade and has also served in several key billets with ground combat units. After transitioning to the private sector ten years ago, he built a successful career in the hardware and software technology industry while continuing to serve in the Marine Reserves. He and his wife are raising five children, and he also serves as an elder in his church.

Firefighter Mike Conicelli, a 21-year veteran with FDNY, shares insights from his diverse experiences in the firehouse and beyond. He discusses the evolution of the FDNY post-9/11, his passion for teaching at the Training Academy, and the challenges of mentoring young cadets. Mike reflects on lessons from the Mental Performance Initiative, how jiu-jitsu helps him stay calm under pressure, and the importance of peer support for mental health. He also humbly recounts a lesson learned from a pump panel mistake, emphasizing the significance of continuous learning.

Today’s episode was recorded during a fireside chat at the week-long LUF Summit with the Baltimore City Fire Department. Captain Andrew Whitehead sits down with Assistant Chief Donald Heinbuch to discuss his remarkable and wide-ranging career in the fire service.

Today’s guest is Captain Tim Buchenroth, a 13-year veteran of the Lexington Fire Department in Lexington, Kentucky. Tim has been an active member of the LUF network since attending the team’s Columbus, Ohio, event in 2017. He is also a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University and currently resides in Kentucky with his family.