Leadership Under Fire

Our guest in this episode of the Leadership Under Fire Humanizing the Narrative Podcast is Dr. Charles "Andy" Morgan. Dr. Morgan's neurobiological and forensic research has established him as an international expert in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), in eyewitness memory and in human performance under conditions of high stress. Dr. Morgan has generously contributed to the Leadership Under Fire endeavor and the FDNY's Mental Performance Initiative--enhancing the resilience of first responders through cutting-edge understanding and programs. Jim McNamara hosts. 

In this episode of the Leadership Under Fire Humanizing the Narrative Podcast, and the one to follow, we're honored to share the story of Deputy Chief Ray Downey’s devotion to his family, his faith and his beloved FDNY compliments of the insight of his wife of 41 years, his sons and his former firefighters who were inspired and influenced by his leadership, service, and courage. Chief Downey’s extraordinary 39-year career with the FDNY was built upon success after success and rescue after rescue. While he was held in high regard by members of the Department and emergency response agencies worldwide, he led a humble life, extremely devoted to the mission and members of the Department. On the morning of September 11, 2001, Chief Downey was the commanding officer of FDNY Special Operations Command, placing him in harm’s way while helping others escape from the fire and collapse scene of the World Trade Center. Chief Downey was one of the 343 members of the FDNY who made the Supreme Sacrifice on 9/11 and left behind a legacy that continues to profoundly shape the Department’s special operations capability set as well as other fire departments across the country. Chief Downey’s leadership, strategic vision and his devout Catholic faith, love for his family, the FDNY and competitive sport continue to inspire fire officers, military leaders, coaches, and citizens today.

In this episode, we’re revisiting a conversation with Tim Clarke that was recorded in 2019. Tim is a Brooklyn native who has lived most of his life in New York City. After several years of competing with some of the best endurance athletes in the world as a Professional Triathlete, Tim became an FDNY firefighter in June of 2015. In 2020, he made a life-altering decision to join the United States military. As both an athlete and a coach, Tim gained extensive experience 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. Tim is a graduate of the University of Delaware and serves as a Human Performance Data Analyst for Leadership Under Fire. Please enjoy a brief update from Tim about his latest endeavors followed by our original conversation, which is as timely as ever. 

The original broadcast date for this episode was November 7, 2019. Charles “Sid” Heal was much more than a subject matter expert on doctrine – he was a US Marine Chief Warrant Officer 5, a combat veteran of four conflicts to include Vietnam and Operation Iraqi Freedom, a veteran LA County Sheriff and pioneer in the fields of special tactics and tactical science, a dynamic speaker, and a published author, and a carpenter. Sid was gregarious, kind, and a true gentleman. He possessed an unrivaled amount of physical energy and a contagious spirit of intellectual curiosity that naturally complimented his inordinate operational experience. Our team was extremely saddened to learn of Sid’s sudden passing on May 24, 2022. His departure came as a shock to his family and all of those who loved him, as well as all of those of us who benefited from his wisdom – wisdom that was undoubtedly an anchor in disorienting, complex and lethal environments. Sid would commonly say, “the principles of optimal human performance are universal – it is the application that is contextual.” Our team was honored and blessed to have Sid shape our approach to preparing leaders and operators to perform optimally, under pressure. We are forever grateful for Sid’s tutelage and his ability to “humanize the narrative.”

In the Spring of 2022, the Leadership Under Fire Team launched an Optimizing Human Performance Program with the Cherry Hill NJ Fire Department. The program strives to equip fire officers, firefighters and EMS providers with a comprehensive understanding of human performance, particularly under stress in high-risk settings. The immersive LUF human performance course is being delivered to the Cherry Hill FD in three iterations. Each iteration consists of 40 hours of immersive curriculum that rigorously explores physiological performance under operational stress, cognitive function and decision-making in high-risk settings, mental skills and conditioning, as well as responsible stress inoculations. The final block is devoted to a provocative examination of what science, history and experience inform us about risk and resilience.     Course advisors and contributors include several fire service leaders as well as human performance thought-leaders in the military, sport and academia. The Cherry Hill NJ fire department is the third fire department in the US to advance performance in programmatic fashion--they join the FDNY and the Milwaukee FD in this endeavor. Lieutenants Zach Houck and Timmy Moore serve as the human performance program managers for the Cherry Hill FD. The LUF team is proud of our relationship with the Cherry Hill FD and Philadelphia FD, as we continue to work together to humanize the narrative around performance at fires and emergencies.

Our guest in this episode of the Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Podcast is Adam Casey. Born and raised in St. Louis, MIssouri, Adam attended the University of Missouri (aka Mizzou) where he was a walk-on for the Tigers football team from 2004 - 2008. After graduating with a Bachelor's in Biology, Adam was commissioned as a naval officer in 2012 with the intentions of becoming a Navy SEAL Officer. In 2013, Adam laterally transferred to the Marine Corps where he served as a rifle Platoon Commander with 2nd Battalion, 6thMARINES. Soon after assuming command of his platoon, Adam was diagnosed with advanced Stage-IV non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and underwent a grueling six months of chemotherapy. Upon remission, Adam returned to school at the University of Colorado at Boulder to earn another undergraduate degree, this time in Computer Science. Now a full-time software engineer for Jane Technologies, Adam continues to find purpose in running a non-profit and hosting his own podcast.

Battalion Chief Jason Cascone has served in the FDNY since 2001. He is currently assigned to Battalion 17 in the Bronx. Prior assignments include Engine 67 and Ladder 36 as a firefighter, Engine 332 as a lieutenant and Ladder 11 UFO as a captain. He holds a BBA in accounting from Pace University and an MPA from Baruch College, Marxe School of Public and International Affairs. He attended the West Point Counterterrorism Leadership Program, the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security and the FDNY Mental Performance Initiative. He is a content producer for the Department’s Bureau Fire Operations, and is the editor in chief of WNYF magazine—the FDNY’s official training publication which has been publishing since 1940.

Doug Kechijian is a physical therapist and CEO and co-founder of Resilient Performance Systems. Resilient seeks to systematically explore the continuum between acute rehabilitation and athletic performance. Resilient’s clientele includes athletes and operators from Major League Baseball (MLB), National Basketball Association (NBA), professional mixed martial arts, X Games, Winter and Summer Olympics, collegiate athletes as well as those in federal law enforcement tactical teams and military special operations units. Before beginning his sports medicine practice, Doug was a Pararescueman in the U.S. Air force where he deployed throughout the world to help provide technical rescue capability and emergency medical care to U.S and allied forces. He is a nationally certified paramedic with advanced training in emergency, trauma, and wilderness medicine. In 2015, he was selected as one of the U.S. Air Force's Outstanding Airmen of the Year. Doug received his AB in Biology from Brown University and MA in Exercise Physiology/Doctor of Physical Therapy from Columbia University.

On Thursday, May 5, 2022, US Marine LtCol, attorney and veteran advocate Justin Constantine passed away at the age of 52 after a long bout with cancer. While on a combat patrol with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines in October 2006, Justin was severely wounded by an Al Qaeda sniper’s bullet which inflicted devastating damage to his face. Through teamwork, mental fortitude, the gifted hands of surgeons and medical professionals, and tremendous support from his family and friends, Justin successfully endured several years of intensive surgeries and went on to live a full life of continued service to others. In late October of 2012, firefighters and fire officers from across the country gathered in Philadelphia, PA, for Leadership Under Fire’s inaugural summit. The “Making Yourself Hard to Kill” conference rigorously examined what was at the time a commonly neglected dimension of performance at fire and high-risk operations—the mental aspect. Justin was truly the epitome of resilience, and was a natural fit for the summit panel of survivors. Though Justin’s time on Earth was finite, his words of encouragement, which you'll hear in this episode, are timeless.   Celebrate the life of Justin Constantine: celebratejustinconstantine.org

In this episode of the Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Podcast, you’ll hear from American climber and author, Ed Webster. This recording of Webster reflecting on risk and resiliency took place in Pennsylvania in October 2012 at the first Leadership Under Fire Making Yourself Hard to Kill Conference, which paved the way for future Leadership Under Fire conferences and events. Webster is a record-breaking climber who has achieved and survived the impossible, including in 1988, when he and three partners ascended a new, never-before-attempted route up Mt. Everest’s most dangerous, isolated side in Tibet with no sherpas, no radios and no oxygen.