play_arrowEpisode 65 – Lessons from the 1977 Honda Canyon Fire & the 2016 Canyon Fire at Vandenberg AFB – Mark Smith Matt Wilson
play_arrowEpisode 64 – Are You Ready? Training, Culture, Policy & The Moment of Truth – Terrell Thomas FireDawg.us
play_arrowEpisode 63 – Tax Strategy for Federal Firefighters Before April 15 – Matt Stelmaszek FireDawg.us
play_arrowEpisode 62 – When You Don’t Get the Job You Want: Leadership Insights from a 32-Year Chief – Pete Webb FireDawg.us
play_arrowEpisode 61 – Leaving the Military, Overcoming Loss, and Building a Career in Safety – Chris Lopardi FireDawg.us
In 1977, the Honda Canyon Fire swept across Vandenberg Air Force Base—now Vandenberg Space Force Base—becoming one of the most significant wildfires in the installation’s history and reshaping how the department approached wildland firefighting. Nearly four decades later, the 2016 Canyon Fire once again challenged the installation, reminding firefighters how […]
What does it really mean to be ready? In this episode of The FireDawg Podcast, we explore the moments that test more than skill — they test judgment. The moments when your training is pushed, policy isn’t perfectly clear, and culture either empowers you… or makes you hesitate. Our guest, Terrell […]
Tax season isn’t something we talk about much in the firehouse — but maybe we should. In this episode, we sit down with former Air Force firefighter turned financial and tax expert, Matt Stelmaszek, to break down what federal firefighters need to know before the April 15 filing deadline. We […]
In this episode of the FireDawg Podcast, Matt is joined by returning guest Chief Master Sergeant (Ret.) Peter Webb. Chief Webb previously appeared on Episode 35, where he shared his journey from Army firefighter to Air Force Reserve Command Chief, his service as a Battalion Chief in Dothan, Alabama, and […]
In Episode 61 of the FireDawg Podcast, Matt Wilson is joined by former Air Force firefighter Chris Lopardi for a conversation about service, loss, fatherhood, and transitioning out of the military. Chris shares how losing his son, Mason, shaped his outlook on life and influenced his decision-making during and after […]
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 […]
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 […]
In this episode, Matt and Chris sit down with John Whitmyer, Carlos Ballesteros, and Michael Myles–instructors of the new Fire Officer Strategies & Tactics Leadership Course (FOSTLC). Designed for newly appointed company officers, FOSTLC is reshaping how the Air Force develops tactical leaders. Our guests break down why the course […]
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 […]
