Leadership Under Fire

In this episode, we're honored to have U.S. Marine Lieutenant General Lawrence Nicholson as our guest. General Nicholson served as the Commanding General of III Marine Expeditionary Force, leading 30,000 Marines and Sailors in the Asia-Pacific region, from 2015 to 2018. He retired in August of 2018 after 39 years of dedicated service. During his career, he commanded at every level in USMC infantry units and commanded Marines in both Anbar Province, Iraq and Helmand Province, Afghanistan during critical periods of military campaigns. General Nicholson is the first General Officer to be interviewed on our show.

Welcome to the second part of our 2019 Year In Review. This episode picks up with podcast host Patti Murphy, Leadership Under Fire Founder and President Jason Brezler and FDNY Senior Firefighter James McNamara. In the previous episode, we discussed the LUF team's accomplishments and focused efforts during 2019. Now, we'll dive deeper into some of the lessons Jason and Jim learned firsthand during the year that impacted their views on human performance and leadership.

In this episode, host Patti Murphy is joined by Leadership Under Fire Founder and President Jason Brezler and FDNY Senior Firefighter James McNamara. Together they discuss the LUF Team's 2019 accomplishments and focused efforts which included the rigorous examination of resilience--most specifically, exploring the question of "what happens when we play to win and lose?" Jason and Jim also share as some of the lessons that they learned firsthand during 2019 that impacted their views on human performance and leadership, as well as events and resources that shaped their professional development. This is the first of a two-part series.  

Timothy Clarke is an FDNY Firefighter in Ladder Company 12 in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan and an International Association of Firefighters Peer Certified Fitness instructor (which is a personal trainer for firefighters). He spent three years racing professionally in the sport of triathlon and is a QT2 systems level 3 certified triathlon coach. As both an athlete and a coach, Tim has spent the last 10 years using biometric heart rate data as a tool for training and racing. His experience has given him a unique insight into what happens inside the human body at real world fires and emergencies as well as during workouts and recovery.

Deputy Chief Eric Nurnberg, a dedicated leader with the Iowa City Fire Department and veteran Marine, returns to discuss his mission-oriented approach to leadership. He explores the importance of decision-making under stress, the value of mentorship, and the nuances of team culture in firefighting. Eric contrasts mission-oriented leadership with traditional styles, emphasizing purpose and trust. He also shares insights on immersive training methods, the significance of ongoing learning, and his work in developing a leadership curriculum that enhances human performance.

Charles “Sid” Heal retired as a Commander from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department in 2008 after nearly 33 years of service, more than half of which was spent in units charged with handling law enforcement special and emergency operations. He was present for emergency operations at the Oklahoma City Bombing, the 1992 Los Angeles Riots, the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, and the 2001 attacks. Sid also dedicated 35 years to the US Marine Corps Reserve and served four combat tours. He is the author of Sound Doctrineand Field Command, as well as more than 180 articles on law enforcement subjects. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Police Science from California State University, a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in management from California Polytechnic University. He is also a graduate of the FBI’s National Academy and the California Command College. He is the President of the California Association of Tactical Officers and the national chairman for Strategy Development for the National Tactical Officers Association. He is a frequent teacher at the U.S. military war colleges and has taught throughout the world.

Hannah Huesman, a Mental Performance Coach for the Philadelphia Phillies with a rich background in sport psychology and a passion for mental training, discusses crucial topics like building mental skills in athletes and navigating a male-dominated industry. She highlights her 'Mental Sweat Monday' initiative, promoting mental health alongside physical fitness. The conversation also dives into the importance of mindfulness, self-talk, and structured goal-setting, offering listeners valuable insights to enhance performance in sports and beyond.

This is the second and final installment in a series dedicated to Remembering FDNY Captain John T. Vigiano. Captain Vigiano passed away on July 8, 2018, after a long battle with cancer—leaving behind an indelible impression on those who knew him best. Captain Vigiano was a resilient leader, dedicated to a life of service. Aside from his impressive professional record, Captain Vigiano was most proud of his family and the paths his two sons chose: John Jr., an FDNY firefighter, and Joe, an NYPD detective. Captain Vigiano and his wife, Jan, lost both their sons on the morning of September 11, 2001. In this episode, we’ll take a closer look at his personal life and the support he and his wife provided our nation’s post-9/11 military veterans. You’ll hear from almost a dozen people who were impacted by his leadership, as well as from Captain Vigiano himself. In 2015, he sat on a panel at a Leadership Under Fire Conference reflecting on risk and resilience which we’ll play for you throughout the episode. 

FDNY Captain John T. Vigiano was a resilient leader, dedicated to a life of service. On July 8, 2018, he passed away after a long battle with cancer, but left behind a far-reaching legacy.  Captain Vigiano was a former Sergeant in the US Marine Corps. Prior to his enlistment in the Marines, he enlisted in the New York National Guard at the young age of fifteen. He eventually joined the FDNY in 1962, working his way up to Captain at Ladder Co. 176. He retired one of the Department’s most decorated fire Captains after 36 years on the job. Aside from his impressive professional record, Captain Vigiano was most proud of his family and the paths his two sons chose: John Jr., an FDNY firefighter, and Joe, an NYPD detective. Captain Vigiano and his wife, Jan, lost both their sons on the morning of September 11, 2001—an unthinkable tragedy which they were able to transform into continued service. To honor their sons, they worked tirelessly donating their time and resources to improving the lives of Gold Star Families and our nation’s post-9/11 military veterans. In the fall of 2015, Captain Vigiano sat on a Risk and Resilience panel in Bowie, Maryland at a Leadership Under Fire Conference and spent the evening candidly reflecting on risk and resilience. In this first episode of a two-part series, you’ll hear some of that discussion as well as from nearly a dozen people who knew him best and were impacted by his leadership.

This summer, we took a hiatus from publishing new episodes. But thanks to the brief pause, the Leadership Under Fire team accomplished a lot. In this episode, listeners are brought up to speed and get a glimpse of what's to come.