Leadership Under Fire

Living, Leading and Loving in a Messy World with Officer Jon Matthews

Jon Matthews was a police officer in Greensboro, North Carolina, for more than a decade, from 2008 to 2019, before leaving the policing profession to enter ministry with a local church. After a year and a half in ministry, he returned to police work during one of the most challenging times in his department's history in late 2020. He is currently assigned to a Community Resource Team, which is a street-level crimes team tasked with reducing gun violence in the city. During his first run with policing, he spent five years as a detective with the department's Violent Criminal Apprehension Team, a team that utilizes partnerships with local and federal agencies to locate and arrest violent fugitives. During this time, he was also assigned as a Task Force Agent with the Secret Service for three years. In 2017, Jon was promoted to corporal, where he was then assigned to the patrol division before serving as a Corporal Detective on the Family Victims Unit, a team that investigates child victim and sexual assault investigations, among others. In addition to these roles, Jon was also assigned to his department's Special Response Team for seven years, a call-out based team that performs high risk search warrants, as well as responds to barricaded subjects and hostage situations. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina, is married to his high-school sweetheart, and keeps busy in his off-time by coaching and raising his nine year old twins and one year old daughter.

Jim McNamara's Senior Man Feature Episode with Chief Pat Maloney, CFD (Ret)

Pat Maloney is a retired 39-year member of the Chicago Fire Department, who rose through the ranks to become the Chief of Special Operations. Pat entered the ranks of the Chicago Fire Department in 1981. Prior to his promotion to Battalion Chief, Pat served as the Captain of Squad 2 for eleven years. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Fire Science Management from Southern Illinois University. Pat served as a Staff Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps and is a veteran of the Persian Gulf War. Pat also serves as a Tactical Leadership Advisor for Leadership Under Fire.

"With You" - Combat Leadership with Capt Nick Kalt, USMC (Ret)

Nick Kalt is our guest in this episode of the Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Podcast. Nick serves as a Captain with the Long Beach, California Fire Department. Prior to entering the professional fire service, Nick was a Captain in the United States Marine Corps. He was seriously wounded in the Battle of Fallujah in November 2004 while serving with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion and subsequently medically retired from the USMC. Nick is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and was a collegiate All-American for the Midshipmen rugby team. He also serves as a Tactical Leadership Advisor for Leadership Under Fire.

2020 Year In Review with Jason Brezler and James McNamara

In this episode, host Patti Murphy is joined by Jason Brezler and Jim McNamara as we look back at a year that was like no other we've experienced in our lifetimes. Against the backdrop of a global Coronavirus pandemic, 2020 catapulted all of us into world-changing events. From the tragic loss of life and economic effects of the pandemic to civil unrest to ongoing wildfires, 2020 has certainly been a defining one. Those who subscribe to the podcast will surely be familiar with both Jason and Jim, but for those who may be tuning in for the first time: Jason is the Founder and President of Leadership Under Fire and currently is a Lieutenant in the FDNY. Prior to becoming a firefighter and creating the Leadership Under Fire Team, Jason began his career as an Officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. He’s led Marines on several deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan where he was decorated for his combat service. Jim serves as a Human Performance Advisor for Leadership Under Fire. He is the author of the LUF Senior Man’s Performance Journal and regularly hosts Senior Man Feature Episodes on this podcast. Jim is an FDNY firefighter who joined the Department in 1994 and currently serves in Ladder Co. 26 in Harlem. 

Gold Medal Mindset with Olympian Erin Cafaro

Erin Cafaro is one of the most decorated female rowers in American history. Cafaro was a star rower at Cal from 2001 to 2006, helping the Golden Bears win the NCAA Championship in both 2005 and 2006. She helped the United States win the gold medal in the Eight boat in both the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Erin was also a five-time medalist at the World Rowing Championships, including three gold medals. Cafaro is a two-time honoree of the World Rowing Female Crew of the Year and was the 2009 U.S. Rowing Female Athlete of the Year. Cafaro has spent more than a decade coaching in diverse performance communities of athletes, coaches, military, and business professionals. She pivoted into the field of research and psychology in 2018 to dig deeper into health and human behavior and is now a second-year doctoral student in Clinical Psychology at the Wright Institute in Berkeley.

From Vietnam to 9/11: Leading by Learning and Adapting with Commissioner Sal Cassano, FDNY (Ret)

Salvatore Cassano is the former Commissioner of the New York City Fire Department. He was appointed Commissioner by Mayor Michael Bloomberg in January 2010 and retired from the FDNY in 2014. Mr. Cassano became an FDNY member in 1969 and served in every uniformed rank, including the highest—Chief of Department. From 2001 to 2006, he served as Chief of Operations – a position to which he was appointed immediately after September 11, 2001. Both as Chief of Operations and Chief of Department, Cassano played a critical role in rebuilding the FDNY which lost 343 of its members on 9/11. Under his leadership, nearly 7,000 new firefighters were hired, and some 6,000 others were promoted to various officer ranks as the Department went through a difficult but remarkable resurgence. Prior to joining the FDNY, Mr. Cassano served in the U.S. Army from October 1965 through July 1967 and was deployed to Vietnam in September 1966. While a firefighter, he attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Science. Mr. Cassano also received an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from St. John’s University in May 2013. 

Finding Flow Under Pressure with Dr. Nathaniel Zinsser

Dr. Nathaniel Zinsser has been a sport psychology teacher and trainer for three decades. He has served on the faculties of William Paterson College in New Jersey, East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania, the University of Virginia system, and since 1992, he has directed the nation’s leading mental skills training program at West Point’s Center for Enhanced Performance. This program has been adopted by the U.S. Army for training new recruits, drill sergeants, and tactical units preparing for deployment at twenty-five posts across the country. He has extensive experience advising professional, Olympic and Division 1 collegiate athletes, surgeons, corporate team leaders, first responders and military units. His sport psychology training is complemented by his experience as a state wrestling champion, elite level mountaineer, and lifetime practitioner of Japanese karate and meditative disciplines.

Delivering Critical Care Under Pressure in NYC and Around the World with Chris Summers

Chris Summers is a Physician Assistant, Critical Care Specialist and Quality Assurance and Education Coordinator, who has practiced cardiothoracic surgery and critical care medicine in New York City for the past 14 years. He is a veteran of the US Coast Guard stationed in the North Atlantic and a former New York City Paramedic that has responded to countess catastrophes both on land and at sea. Chris is a co-founder of NYC Medics, a globally recognized disaster response group and serves as a medical provider, clinical supervisor, and logistics coordinator. He has extensive international experience working in remote and austere locations within disaster zones and specializes in emergency medical care, disaster management, systems development, medical, surgical and MCI education, as well as coaching and simulation training. He recently returned from two deployments with NYC Medics to Mosul, Iraq where NYC Medics was running Trauma Stabilization Points on the front lines in the war against Isis. Chris’s unique and diverse experience in public service helped him to develop a high degree of resilience and small unit leadership skills while operating in hostile environments and high-pressure situations. 

Jim McNamara's Senior Man Feature Episode with Capt Al Hagan, FDNY (Ret)--Part II

This episode is the second and final installment of a two-part interview featuring guest host Jim McNamara and retired FDNY Captain Alexander Hagan. Captain Al began his career in 1973 and served in some of the FDNY's busiest companies. After 35 years of service in the field, he decided to become part of union leadership. Hagan began his union service as the Captain’s Rep, and then the President of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association. Be sure to listen to Part I of the interview which covered leadership, human performance and organized labor. In Part II, Jim and Captain Al continue their exploration of civil unrest and fiscal austerity.

Jim McNamara's Senior Man Feature Episode with Capt Al Hagan, FDNY (Ret)--Part I

This episode is part one of two. Alexander (“Captain Al”) Hagan began his career during the War Years of the FDNY, in 1973, when he was assigned to 36 Engine in Harlem. After several years in Harlem, Al studied and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, and was assigned to 44 Truck in the South Bronx. Al would later promote again, and assume command of 43 Truck in Spanish Harlem. After 35 years of service in the field, in some of the busiest units in the FDNY, Captain Al decided to become a part of union leadership. Al began his union service as the Captain's Rep, and then the President of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association (IAFF Local 854). After 41 years of service to the people of New York City and the Firefighters and Fire Officers of the FDNY, Captain Al retired, leaving behind a career and legacy for the ages. Jim McNamara hosts.