In Episode 60 of the FireDawg Podcast, host Matt Wilson sits down with Chief Master Sergeant (Ret.) Shanton Russell for a reflective conversation on career progression, leadership philosophy, and long-term success in the Air Force Fire Protection community. Chief Russell shares his full-circle journey—entering the Air Force as a young firefighter at Scott Air Force Base in 1996 and retiring nearly 30 years later as the Fire Chief at the same installation. Throughout the discussion, he reflects on the lessons learned early in his career, how his leadership approach evolved as he progressed through the enlisted ranks, and the experiences […]

In this episode, Matt is joined by Chief Master Sergeant Kyle Rollins to break down the June 2020 Hazardous Materials Storage Facility fire at Kadena Air Base. Chief Rollins, who served as the Incident Commander, provides a detailed after-action review of a response initiated by Calcium Hypochlorite, a reactive material whose hazards can rapidly escalate when exposed to heat and moisture. During the discussion they cover the facility conditions and contributing factors leading up to the incident, the initial response, size-up, and decision-making, interoperability and coordination between response agencies and strengths, challenges, and key lessons learned from the event. The […]

In this episode, Matt joins Justin Andreas, an ultramarathoner, run coach, social media influencer, podcaster, and current Deputy Fire Chief at Eielson AFB. They dig into the power of doing hard things—and how stepping into discomfort builds real resilience you can carry into every area of life. Justin shares why carving out time for the things that ignite you isn’t just a hobby—it’s a critical part of thriving on duty and off. Whether you’re chasing big goals in your career, your fitness, or your personal development, this conversation shows how leaning into the hard stuff shapes you into someone who’s […]

Fluorine Free Foam (F3) has officially replaced AFFF across the Department of Defense fire service – but what does that really mean for firefighters on the line? In this episode, Matt and Chris sit down with Austin Perry, a Staff Sergeant and Company Officer at Eielson Air Force Base, who brings firsthand operational experience using F3 during two major aircraft responses – an F-35 crash and an F-16 mishap in 2025. Austin shares insights from both real-world incidents and formal training at the Dallas-Fort Worth Fire Training Research Center, breaking down the science, limitations, and tactical adjustments needed to apply […]