Leadership Under Fire

04/10/2026

NEW EPISODE: “Exploring Viktor Frankl’s “Man’s Search for Meaning” with LtCol Charlie Black USMC (Ret)“

Since our formal inception more than a decade ago, the Leadership Under Fire (LUF) team has championed professional reading as a cornerstone of operational excellence. A close study of history’s most effective, mission-oriented leaders reveals a consistent thread: their success is closely tied to disciplined engagement with literature, reflection, and critical thought. In 2022, LUF launched its inaugural online book club, creating a forum for meaningful dialogue, shared perspective, and the kind of intellectual rigor that sharpens decision-making on the fireground and beyond.

In this week’s episode, LtCol Charlie Black explores Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning—a work forged in the harshest conditions imaginable, yet centered on a simple, enduring truth: even in the worst circumstances, we retain the ability to choose our attitude and find purpose. When conditions are chaotic and outcomes uncertain, purpose becomes the anchor, and how we choose to respond defines both our leadership and our impact.

Listen now on our website, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Samsung Podcast, or Podchaser. If you like our show, please leave a comment and rate us, subscribe and share it.

Click here to listen now:

Since our formal inception more than a decade ago, the Leadership Under Fire (LUF) team has championed professional reading as a cornerstone of operational excellence. A close study of history’s most effective, mission-oriented leaders reveals a consistent thread: their success is closely tied to ...

04/08/2026

The Leadership Under Fire Team is excited to announce that registration for the 2026 Leadership Development Course (LDC) is open. The course consists of five days and evenings of dynamic instruction, discussion, and collaboration focused on tactical leadership. The course curriculum is geared towards unit level leaders, specifically company officers and firefighters. The immersive course is held on the Farm where participants will learn, reflect, eat, and sleep in a communal setting.
The course also includes a staff ride of the Gettysburg Battlefield and a Tactical Fitness and Recovery Workshop.

Course themes include:

■ The Moral Imperative of Leadership
■ Mission-Oriented Leadership
■ Command Philosophy Development & Implementation
■ Leading Your Peers
■ Mental Performance at Fires and Emergencies

Registration is limited to 25 leaders.

https://web.cvent.com/event/8c77cc57-2d12-40fd-928d-6fb24afa258a/summary

03/20/2026

NEW EPISODE: “Listening Makes Everyone Better with Lt Mike O’Connell FDNY“

Our guest today is FDNY Lieutenant Mike O’Connell, a 10-year member of the Department. Before being promoted, he served as a firefighter with Engine 202 and Ladder 102 in Brooklyn. Mike is a graduate of St. John’s University and is a member of both the MPI and Leadership Under Fire teams.

Listen now on our website, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Samsung Podcast, or Podchaser. If you like our show, please leave a comment and rate us, subscribe and share it.

Click here to listen now:

Our guest today is FDNY Lieutenant Mike O’Connell, a 10-year member of the Department. Before being promoted, he served as a firefighter with Engine 202 and Ladder 102 in Brooklyn. Mike is a graduate of St. John’s University and is a member of both the MPI and Leadership Under Fire teams.

03/05/2026

NEW EPISODE: “Revisiting Jim McNamara’s Senior Man Feature Episode with FF Bob Athanas, FDNY“

This episode is hosted by Jim McNamara. For those tuning in for the first time, Jim is a senior Firefighter at the FDNY and serves as a Human Performance Advisor for Leadership Under Fire. He’s also the principal author of the Leadership Under Fire Senior Man’s Performance Journal. Bob Athanas is our guest in this episode. Bob recently retired after 37 years of service with the FDNY. Bob grew up in Southbridge, MA, and served as a paid firefighter there from 1976-1983. He moved to Brooklyn, New York, in 1983 and served four years as an FDNY fire alarm dispatcher in the Brooklyn Central Office and later the CADO Unit. Bob was appointed as a FDNY firefighter in 1987. He transferred to Rescue 3 in February of 1991 where he would spend the next 29 years of his career. Bob also served as an adjunct instructor at the FDNY Fire Academy and the lead instructor for thermal imager training for many FDNY training programs. He also taught at the FDNY Special Operations Command Technical Rescue School and helped develop the FDNY SOC Advanced Firefighter Rescue Training program. Bob was also a member of the Urban Search and Rescue New York Task Force 1.

Listen now on our website, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Samsung Podcast, or Podchaser. If you like our show, please leave a comment and rate us, subscribe and share it.

Click here to listen now:

This episode is hosted by Jim McNamara. For those tuning in for the first time, Jim is a senior Firefighter at the FDNY and serves as a Human Performance Advisor for Leadership Under Fire. He’s also the principal author of the Leadership Under Fire Senior Man’s Performance Journal. Bob Athanas i...

03/05/2026

One seat remains for our Online Leadership Development Course for Fire-Rescue Leaders. Register here: https://web.cvent.com/event/10f6b511-1c0d-4b95-ad90-b01b1ae72bcc/summary?fbclid=IwY2xjawQW6YtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETJLbUtMNGI1YjJ2bDdrTVZTc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHtE6FoqY8tjWEsd9UG1NM9AMI5SXdXc2FXuTMiDO8Gx0WFCggeH-_BBRQ0Wz_aem_BfdpUCfsmV3Wpwo8YAIk2w

02/19/2026

NEW EPISODE: “Revisiting A Historic Human Performance Episode of the Equitable Building Fire with Lt Matt Connor, FDNY“

In this episode, we revisit a conversation between Patti Murphy and FDNY Lt Matt Connor covering the Equitable Building fire on January 9th, 1912. This event tested the courage and skill of the FDNY in some of the most extreme conditions.

The 10-story building at 120 Broadway in Lower Manhattan was considered “fireproof.” In reality, it was cast iron, full of combustible materials, and lacked automatic fire protection. A discarded match in the basement sparked a fire that quickly spread through open elevator shafts and stairways. FDNY members battled frigid temperatures, high winds, and ice. Six people lost their lives, including Battalion Chief William J. Walsh, who was killed when part of the building collapsed.

Despite the danger, firefighters performed several dramatic rescues. The fire led to significant reforms in firefighting, from zoning resolutions and high-pressure hydrants to operational changes. Most notably, it inspired the creation of Rescue Company 1 in March 1915, which quickly fielded Draeger smoke helmets—providing the first rescue company in the United States with a breathing apparatus.

The Equitable Building was rebuilt with a steel frame, completed in 1915, and became the largest office building in the world by floor area for a time. Over the past century, it has housed countless commercial tenants, standing as a testament to American resilience and ingenuity.

In just a few weeks, FDNY members will return to the Equitable Building for an exercise testing next-generation Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus. Ascending from the lobby to the upper floors in full gear and on air, they’ll connect the storied past of the FDNY with the fire service’s readiness for the future. This episode originally aired January 13th, 2022.

Listen now on our website, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Samsung Podcast, or Podchaser. If you like our show, please leave a comment and rate us, subscribe and share it.

Click here to listen now:

In this episode, we revisit a conversation between Patti Murphy and FDNY Lt Matt Connor covering the Equitable Building fire on January 9th, 1912. This event tested the courage and skill of the FDNY in some of the most extreme conditions. The 10-story building at 120 Broadway in Lower Manhattan was....

02/18/2026

Register here: https://web.cvent.com/event/10f6b511-1c0d-4b95-ad90-b01b1ae72bcc/summary?fbclid=IwY2xjawQCvDpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe49ja4kJsRpQ3OcEvMzprQXiDBHMPB_6zKbIxI-ZWXkFY7PgziWXGiUDOVZM_aem_9qcpWZs8_NedSCHDGmIi0A

02/16/2026

Registration is now open for the LUF Leadership Development On-Line Course, which includes 8 modules of dynamic instruction, discussion, and collaboration oriented on tactical leadership. The course group will meet via a web platform on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings (1900-2115) during the semester. The sessions will be recorded and all registrants will have access to the sessions.
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Course themes include: The Moral Imperative of Leadership; Mission-Oriented Leadership; Development and Implementation of a Command Philosophy; and Optimizing Mental Performance.
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There is a corresponding reading and listening (podcasts) component. This is utilized in an effort to further explore the topics and provide real world application as well as a deeper dive into some of the topics than the zoom session allows for.
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Registration is LIMITED to 20 leaders.
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02/06/2026

NEW EPISODE: “Reading and Responding to Black Swans with CWO5 Jim Roussell, USMC (Ret)/Chicago PD (Ret) – Part 2“

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 CWO5 Jim Roussell’s, USMC (Ret)/Chicago PD (Ret) 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.

Listen now on our website, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Samsung Podcast, or Podchaser. If you like our show, please leave a comment and rate us, subscribe and share it.

Click here to listen now:

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 discip...

01/26/2026

NEW EPISODE: “Continuing a Legacy of Service and Humanity with Lt. Christopher Horgan, FDNY“

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.

Listen now on our website, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Samsung Podcast, or Podchaser. If you like our show, please leave a comment and rate us, subscribe and share it.

Click here to listen now:

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...

01/12/2026

Two open seats remain for our LUF Human Performance-Centered Fireground Command and Control Course Retreat (February 16, 2026 - February 19, 2026).
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The immersive course is held on the Farm where course participants will learn, reflect, break bread, and sleep in a communal setting in scenic and historic Frederick County, located in Western Maryland. The location is one hour from Baltimore/Washington International Airport. Ground transportation between the airport and retreat will be provided.
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For more information:
contact@leadershipundefire.com • leadershipunderfire.com
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Register here:
https://web.cvent.com/event/7f27809b-afbb-48e5-822b-f2faa775c1f9/summary

01/08/2026

NEW EPISODE: “Commanding with Competitive Conviction with BC Mike Rudasill, BCFD“

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 U.S. 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.

Listen now on our website, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Samsung Podcast, or Podchaser. If you like our show, please leave a comment and rate us, subscribe and share it.

Click here to listen now:

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....