Leadership Under Fire

LtCol Justin Constantine, USMC--A Life of Service Well Lived

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

Climbing Everest Without Oxygen and With Morality with Ed Webster

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. 

”See the World Differently” with LtCol Charlie Black, USMC (Ret)

In this episode of the Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Podcast, we welcome back to the show LtCol Charlie Black, USMC (Ret). Black was featured on the podcast in early February 2020 in episode #27 where he discussed leadership in a rapidly changing environment. Shortly after the episode aired, all of our lives were drastically impacted by world-changing events including the tragic loss of life and economic effects of a global pandemic to civil unrest. 2021—and so far 2022—have brought on significant worldwide challenges as well such as America’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Since Black is  a dynamic, transformative and futures-oriented leader with over thirty five years of diverse global experience and proven talent for cultivating winning and resilient teams that attain favorable futures in an accelerating and turbulent world, the Leadership Under Fire Team thought it would be fitting to invite him back on the show.

LUF Fireside Chat Series featuring FDNY Chief Jack Pritchard (Ret) and Captain Tommy Gardner–Part II

This is the second and final installment of our Leadership Under Fire Fireside Chat Series featuring FDNY Chief Jack Pritchard (Ret) and Captain Tommy Gardner. Both individuals have worked in some of the busiest companies in the FDNY and served in the United State Navy prior to joining the Department. This conversation affords seasoned leaders the opportunity to candidly reflect on leadership lessons and human performance principles resulting from the many wins and losses they’ve experienced. The episode is hosted by LUF Senior Man Jim McNamara. If you haven’t listened to Part I, we strongly suggest you go back and listen to it as this conversation picks up from where we left off. 

Cold Case Investigations: Serving Justice and Building Resilience with Detective Wendell Stradford, NYPD (Ret)

On September 11, 2021, Wendell Stradford marked his 63rd birthday, the birth of his granddaughter, and the end of his nearly forty-year career with the NYPD. Detective Stradford aged out of service after having spent the bulk of his career working and solving cold cases. There were many successes in the detective’s time on the job, but there were many challenges that came along with it. He joined the Department in 1984 prior to the consolidation of the New York City Transit Police and Housing Authority Police in 1995. Stradford built a reputation as a superb investigator and proud public servant despite the dangers of policing. While off-duty, Stradford made sure to carve out time to coach his children and local high school athletes. He’s coached several basketball teams including the Police Athletic League and has served as the longtime assistant coach at St. Peter’s Boys High School on Staten Island. After a long career chasing down criminals and solving heinous crimes, Stradford was asked to share his expertise consulting on TV crime shows, which is how he’s been spending time in retirement. 

LUF Fireside Chat Series featuring FDNY Chief Jack Pritchard (Ret) & Captain Tommy Gardner--Part I

This episode of the Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Podcast is hosted by Jim McNamara and features FDNY Battalion Chief Jack Pritchard (Ret) and Captain Tommy Gardner. Both individuals have worked in some of the busiest companies in the FDNY. Chief Pritchard started his career in 1970 in Squad 4. During his career he went on to work in Rescue Co. 2, Rescue Co. 5, Engine Co. 255, Ladder Co. 157 and served as a chief in Battalion 41. Over the course of Captain Gardner's career he served in Engine Co. 255, Ladder Co. 157, Ladder Co. 111. After 9/11, he worked at the FDNY's Fire Training Academy. Once promoted to Captain, he served in Ladder Co.113. Gardner is a plank owner of Squad 8 on Staten Island. Both men served in the United State Navy prior to joining the FDNY. 

Reflections on a Family Legacy with Deputy Chief Jim Ginty, FDNY (Ret)

Deputy Chief Jim Ginty is a 37 year veteran of the FDNY. Assigned as a probationary firefighter to Einge Co. 43/Ladder Co. 59 in 1984 to the war ravaged Bronx. Upon promotion to Lieutenant, an assignment to Ladder Co. 28 in Harlem. As a Captain, he served in Ladder Co. 147 in Flatbush, Brooklyn. Upon yet another promotion, Chief Ginty returned to Harlem in Battalion 12. Chief Ginty capped off his career with one final promotion, to Deputy Chief of the Special Operations Command of the FDNY. In addition, Chief Ginty has been instrumental in the development and execution of the FDNY’s Mental Performance Initiative. Chief Ginty also is intimately involved in the Fire Family Transport program, which obtains vehicles to be used by sick and injured firefighters and their families.

Rescue Company Command with Capt Brian McNulty, Rescue Co. 2, Milwaukee FD

Leadership Under Fire founder Jason Brezler hosts this episode of the Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Podcast. Our guest in this episode is Captain Brian McNulty of the Milwaukee Fire Department’s Rescue Company 2. Capt McNulty joined the ranks of the Milwaukee Fire Department in 1999. In addition to serving as the company commander of Rescue Co. 2, McNulty is a co-director for the department’s technical rescue team and is an adjunct instructor at the training academy. He is also the lead tactical training instructor for our generous sponsor Conway Shield’s Training Division. 

Cultivating Personal and Team Resilience with Jennifer Baker

In this episode, listeners will hear the final installment of a recording captured in 2019 at a Leadership Under Fire Summit in Annapolis, Maryland. This talk is a departure from the interviews featured on this podcast and offers a glimpse into how the LUF team approaches advancing leadership and optimizing human performance under fire during scheduled events and seminars. The presenter you'll hear in this episode is Jennifer Baker, who currently is the Director of Athletics and Recreation at Johns Hopkins University. She was promoted to the role on August 6, 2019. Prior to this, Baker served as Hopkins’ Senior Associate Director of Athletics since September 2017. Baker is a co-founder of Athletics Leadership Consulting, whose mission is to make leadership development accessible to all athletes, coaches and organizational support staff. The group leverages athletics as a tool for leadership education as it designs and delivers original content that allows athletes to develop leadership and teamwork skills as an integrated component of their competitive experience. Baker graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a degree in aerospace engineering and was a member of the Academy’s women’s lacrosse club team. After the Naval Academy, Baker spent seven years in the Navy, including three years as a pilot and four as a construction manager and facilities engineer. She later earned an MBA and a master’s in mechanical engineering from Cornell.
Visit the episode webpage on leadershipunderfire.com to view the workbook Baker references in the episode. 

A Reflection on Individual Risk and Resiliency with FDNY Firefighter Brendan Cawley

FDNY firefighter Brendan Cawley is a survivor of the horrific Black Sunday Fire which occurred in the Bronx on the morning of January 23, 2005. Brendan is one of six members who jumped from the top floor of a 4-story apartment building on E. 178th St. Thirty-four months later, he returned to full duty status after a miraculous and grueling recovery from the physical and mental injuries he sustained as a result of his long fall. The fire tragically claimed the lives of three members of the FDNY – Lt Curt Meyran, FF John Bellew and Lt Joseph DiBernardo. 
The interview you will hear in this episode of the Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Podcast featuring Brendan was recorded in 2019 at a LUF Human Performance Summit in Annapolis, Maryland. The event was devoted to the concept of resilience, namely asking the question, “what happens when we play to win and lose?” To help listeners gain context for each summit conversation, LUF Founder Jason Brezler and podcast host Patti Murphy discussed their reflections shortly after the event, which you will hear prior to the interview. 
Note: The podcast episode also includes tactical fireground transmissions from the Black Sunday fire in the Bronx. A word of caution to our listeners, the transmissions are raw and graphic.