#154: I Didn't Want To Be It - Leading Through The Boston Marathon Bombing - Boston Police Chief Daniel Linskey

Targeted violence, domestic terrorism and international terrorism are changing. In the past, America has been the victim of large scale coordinated attacks. Today, acts of mass violence are as simple as cars, fireworks and household items. On April 15, 2013 two terrorists blew up homemade bombs at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Three innocent people were killed. Hundreds were injured. Boston Police Chief Daniel Linskey immediately found himself in charge of a mass casualty event and a multijurisdictional manhunt through the streets of Boston. Chief Linskey joined Fran Racioppi to share how he overcame fear, panic and the realization that in an instant the entire city was looking to him for guidance and direction. He shares how preparation and training between law enforcement and first responders in the years leading up to the attack was critical in their response. And he explains why in emergency response, there’s no place for egos or credit, just action and results. Join our conversation from the shores of Plymouth Harbor. Follow us on social media, read the full episode on our website, then head over to our YouTube channel or your favorite podcast platform to catch Chief Linskey talk about Team Maureen, an organization he founded to honor his late cousin focused on preventing cancer in our Veterans. HIGHLIGHTS0:00 Introduction3:32 Becoming a US Marine8:47 Joining Boston Police15:05 Public Perception of Law Enforcement Today25:12 Are we prosecuting enough crime?31:07 Immigration policy effect on policing35:47 You’re It at the Boston Marathon49:05 The bombing1:00:20 Standing guard over the victims1:19:37 The Manhunt1:35:29 Boston Strong1:39:04 Mental Health Mechanisms1:43:00 Biggest Lesson1:45:44 Thank youQUOTES“If you leave a place the same way you found it, you’re not leading.”"If you want to learn leadership, lead.”“Cops hate change. The other thing cops hate is the way things are.” “If you think there’s a problem with policing and leadership…ok…join and see what you can do from the inside.”“I would like to see any politician who is making policy on law enforcement to make them have to do a two week basic in-service class in law enforcement.”“If people think there’s no accountability for assaulting a police officer…they’re gonna do it.” “You can’t just say you’re training. You can’t just pretend you’re training. You can’t just say bang bang you’re dead.”“Leadership is putting your team to the task.”“He essentially said “Tag, you’re it boss. And I didn’t want to be it.”“Along with the devastation was a wave of shame and guilt that washed over me.”“I froze. I’m a United States Marine. I’m a cop. I’m the chief. I froze. I want to go home. I want to go home with my kids.” “In crisis there are 5,000 things you got to do, but you need to focus on the five most important right now.”“If you tell the troops what you want them to do and why they should do it, they’ll do it.”The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are an official program of Green Beret Foundation, supporting US Army Special Forces of all generations.

The United States Army invaded Europe in 1944 and has never left. America’s forward projection of its military was instrumental in the stabilization of Europe and the establishment of the world order that has existed since the end of World War II. A critical piece of American power is US Army Europe-Africa; a command responsible for over 37,000 soldiers, 104 countries, 10 units and 9 garrisons. Over 70,000 US military personnel operate across Europe and Africa in either permanent positions or deployed in support of national security objectives. To explain why US Army Europe-Africa is so important, Fran Racioppi sat down with Command Sergeant Major Jeremiah Inman, the command’s senior enlisted advisor. Sergeant Major Inman breaks down the command’s mission to deter aggression and provide stability in some of the world’s most complicated and dynamic regions. He explains the magnitude of the command’s responsibilities; and also shares his biggest leadership lessons learned from his time in Ranger Regiment and how they prepared him to lead no matter the challenge. Join our conversation from the bunkers of Pointe Du Hoc in Normandy, France. Follow us on social media, read the full episode on our website, then head over to our YouTube channel or your favorite podcast platform for all our D-Day Coverage including our first documentary Unknown Heroes: Behind Enemy Lines at D-Day, the story of Operation Jedburgh.HIGHLIGHTS0:00 Introduction1:42 Welcome to Pointe Du Hoc3:20 The mission of US Army Europe-Africa4:10 Guidance to the force4:40 Joint exercises5:00 The differences between Europe and Africa6:22 Supporting Ukraine7:23 Developing young NCOs8:49 USAREUR-AF Lines of Effort12:02 The Next Fight12:52 The role of the Combat Training Centers14:23 Special Operations & conventional force integration14:47 Sergeant Major’s lessons learned16:30 Daily Habits for successQUOTES“Our vision is to get up, show up and be ready to assist our partners. Continue to train and maintain that combat readiness in the event we do have to get into something.”“If we can continue to train and work with our allies and partners now, when we do have to fight, we’ll already have those sets and reps and be a much more lethal force.”“The young NCOs now are so much smarter than I’ll ever be.”“We’re only empowered if our officers empower us.”“We just got to be ready for anything. You don’t know what that next fight is.”“Colonel Ralph Puckett’s like ‘I didn’t go to ranger school to be better than the next guy, I went to ranger school to be better than myself.’”“When you show up, show up. Be present. Get after it. 100% and then some.”“Physical training, marksmanship, battle drills, medical training. Then we added developing leaders of character. I think that’s kind of how I’ve been my entire career, is after those five aspects.”The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are official programs of the Green Beret Foundation.

The health of our military service members and our Veterans is always a top line issue. Many suffer from illness and injury as a result of their service; and most are believed to be at higher risk for chronic sickness. Some of which is fortunately preventable. Cancer is a top concern for much of the military community. To dig into the increased risk cancer poses to our Veterans, Fran Racioppi sat down with Team Maureen; an organization focused on bringing attention and prevention of HPV and HPV-related cancers to our Veterans. Daniel Linskey, Kelly Welch and Dr. Emily Penick lead Team Maureen and founded the organization after the loss of their family and friend Maureen Russo. Worldwide, a woman dies of cervical cancer every two minutes. It is the second-most frequent cancer in the world. The military community is twice as likely to develop HPV, yet immunization rates among our servicemembers are 50% of the civilian community. 90% of HPV-related cancers are preventable through immunization.We broke down the facts of HPV, why it’s rising exponentially in our military, how it’s affecting both our women and men service-members, and what every single person, military and civilian, can do to prevent one of the deadliest, and preventable, cancers in society today.Check out our conversation over-looking Plymouth Harbor and with Cardinals in the air. Follow us on social media, read the full episode on our website, then head over to our YouTube channel or your favorite podcast platform to catch this conversation and our follow-up with Danny as he shares how he led the Boston Police Department during the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. HIGHLIGHTS0:00 Introduction1:50 Welcome to the South Shore4:44 What is Cervical Cancer?8:09 How do you get Cervical Cancer?9:49 What is the effect on men?11:38 Screening for HPV12:55 Oral Health importance14:23 Low vaccination rates17:40 Why are military at risk?19:58 Vaccination process24:57 Who was Maureen?29:17 How are you educating people?33:20 How do you get involved?QUOTES“Making sure that people know about the importance of prevention of HPV and early detection for cervical cancer is our mission.”“Nobody should die of cervical cancer. It’s completely preventable.” “Why not be at the forefront of HPV prevention?” “This is something that can help your kids not get cancer.” “Active duty military and Veterans are 2x as likely as civilians to develop cancers associated with HPV.” “We should be able to get to that point where no one loses a loved one to cervical cancer.”“You think you’re a badass. Cancer doesn’t care if you’re a badass.” The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are an official program of Green Beret Foundation, supporting US Army Special Forces of all generations.

Voting is a foundation of democracy and key to American power, but also a process that can be ugly and divisive. In what many believe to be the most politically charged election period in modern history, Fran Racioppi took a few minutes to sit down with Congressman Rich McCormick, Representative for Georgia’s 7th district. Representative McCormick shared his Elementary Issues of A, B, C, D, E:  the American dream, the border, crime, debt, education and energy; why it’s dangerous to develop a culture of government giving, balancing compassion with security along our borders, and not hiding from the fact that America has real adversaries who seek to do us harm. As a Marine Corps and Navy Veteran, emergency room doctor and former American Gladiator, the Congressman knows the importance of earning success and leading through adversity; character traits he has taken from his military service to the halls of Congress.Join our conversation from Congressman McCormick’s Office. Follow us on social media, read the full episode on our website, then head over to our YouTube channel or your favorite podcast platform for all our election coverage.Stand for something, or stand to the side. HIGHLIGHTS0:00 Welcome to Capitol Hill5:45 Georgia as a swing state10:20 The Elementary Issues13:40 Government Giving17:12 A divided America22:46 The Open Border Argument 25:20 Balancing compassion with security30:03 The near-peer fight32:28 Accepting America has adversaries40:10 The role of SOF in the next fight44:26 Why Congress needs more Veterans51:55 Daily Foundations For Success QUOTES“People don’t realize how diverse the south is. Especially Georgia. And the opinions are just as diverse.”“If you don’t have a good economy nobody thrives.” “You’re never given value by what you’re given. You’re given value by what you earn.” “When one party dominates we have more peace. Not necessarily more prosperity; but more peace.” “If you end up isolated, you will end up at war.” “It’s important not to think that we can huddle up in our country and think that nothing bad is gonna happen anywhere else.” “We need to realize that we are less influential than China in about half of the  western hemisphere. That’s scary.” “If you want to be amongst greatness, look for adversity.” Special thanks to the For Country Caucus for coordinating this interview. The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are an official program of The Green Beret Foundation.The opinions presented on the The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are the opinions of our guests and creator and host Fran Racioppi. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Green Beret Foundation and the Green Beret Foundation assumes no liability for their accuracy; nor does Green Beret Foundation endorse any political candidate or any political party.

Charlie Iacono is the President and CEO of Green Beret Foundation. Almost two years into his tenure, Charlie is pushing the foundation, and its staff, to become the premier charitable organization supporting America’s most important asset; our US Army Green Berets.Charlie joined joined Fran Racioppi from what may be his biggest brain child yet; the Stars and Stripes Classic. An epic battle between Green Berets and Navy SEALS from the home of greatness and the GOAT, Gillette Stadium.In his first long-form interview since taking charge, he shared his vision for the foundation, where it’s come from, the impact it’s made on Green Berets of every generation and how 2025 is set to become the most important year in its history as it increases investment in programs supporting the careers and health of transitioning operators. Leading non-profit organizations is hard. Leading one that lives up to the standard of the Green Beret is even harder. So Charlie explains what’s important to him, how he’s transforming the staff, why service is the foundation of the job, and how building relationships is critical to making an impact. Check out our conversation from the New England Patriots Bubble prior to the Stars and Stripes Classic. Although our snake eating bearded bastards fell to the squids, the intensity of the game looked more like a classic from the 80’s. Plus, there’s always next year. Follow us on social media, read the full episode on our website, and head over to our YouTube channel or your favorite podcast platform to catch all our coverage from the Stars and Stripes Classic. HIGHLIGHTS0:00 Introduction2:06 Welcome to the Stars and Stripes Classic3:55 GBF progress 8:11 Creating the Jedburgh Media Channel11:49 Next Ridgeline 2.020:20 GBF Scholarships24:21 Processing VA Disability Claims30:58 Warrior Sportsmen Salmon Fishing37:42 Goals for 2025QUOTES“There’s just so much cross pollination between the two sports. Between football and lacrosse. And then lacrosse and the SOF world.“I’m a big believer that there are no days off.”“We need to do it for the next conflict. We need to be ready to pick up that phone when that phone rings.”“The team wins as a team. The team loses as a team. The team struggles as a team. The team succeeds and excels as a team.”“They need to be coached up on it. What does your next job look like? What do you want your next to look like?” “The biggest piece to Next Ridgeline 2.0 program is it focuses on the promotion of strength of mind, body and spirit.” “It’s critically important that we as Green Berets talk about who we are, why we’re different, and why it matters..”“Anybody who serves should not have to pay a dime out of their own personal money to further themselves.” The 2025 goal is to “continue to make this organization into something that the entire regiment, all generations, as well as their families are proud of.”Special thanks to the Premier Lacrosse League, the New England Patriots, and all our sponsors who supported the game. 2025 is here and Green Beret Foundation continues to lead from the front no matter the challenge.

Airborne operations were an essential component of the Allied invasion. And since D-Day, the US Army has stood ready to drop airborne forces anywhere in the world at any time. The US Army Golden Knights are America’s most proficient parachutists. Led at the time of this recording by Green Beret Lieutenant Colonel Andy Moffit and Command Sergeant Major Adam Breeding, the Golden Knights set the example for airborne insertion onto any drop zone.LTC Moffit and CSM Breeding joined Fran Racioppi from atop the Normandy Resistance Monument in Saint Marie Dumont to discuss just what it means to be Airborne, both in 1944 and today. They shared what it takes to join the Golden Knights, how they maintain standards and why they are always competing for the perfect jump; especially when the eyes of the world are watching. Check out our conversation from the birthplace of modern Special Forces and home to one of the largest airborne drops in history; then head over to our YouTube channel or your favorite podcast platform to catch all our coverage from the 80th Anniversary of D-Day. Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media and make sure to tune into our first documentary, Unknown Heroes: Behind Enemy Lines at D-Day, the story of Operation Jedburgh available now only on YouTube.HIGHLIGHTS0:00 Introduction2:12 Welcome to Normandy5:03 Golden Knights’ mission7:00 Why become a Golden Knight9:05 What is a Golden Knight?12:56 Building A Great Team15:31 Maintaining a High Operational Tempo17:14 Best part of being a Golden Knight18:04 The meaning of Normandy22:20 Future of the Golden Knights27:29 Daily Foundations of SuccessQUOTES“Our mission is to connect America’s people to her Army.”“I really had to check my ego at the door.” “Culture is king. Culture is everything.”“It really comes down to how teachable are you.”“It’s that healthy level of fear though. That’s what keeps them focused.” “We jump from thousands of feet. A good portion of the team is afraid of heights.” The opinions presented on the The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are the opinions of our guests and creator and host Fran Racioppi. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Green Beret Foundation and the Green Beret Foundation assumes no liability for their accuracy; nor does Green Beret Foundation endorse any political candidate or any political party.

National security isn’t led solely by government entities and the military. Public-private sector partnerships often drive many of our national security decisions. To dig into the importance of the private sector in defense of America, Fran Racioppi sat down with Dave Komendat; a 36-year Veteran of Boeing; one of the world’s largest defense contractors and a critical component of America’s economy. Dave retired after serving as The Boeing Company’s Chief Security Officer, where he ensured the safety and security of over 170,000 employees and $77 Billion in annual revenue. Dave and Fran discussed how private companies partner with the US government, how security has evolved since 9/11, and how to build a culture of security in our companies and as a nation. They also break down the magnitude of Boeing, its impact on the aviation and defense industries, and the future of aviation security across a multitude of threats. Dave is also the Chairman of Hostage US, a non-profit supporting the families of American hostages and those wrongfully detained, as well as hostages and detainees when they return home. They take a few minutes to unpack hostage diplomacy and how America’s adversaries are using unlawful detention as a tool to compete with American power abroad. Watch, listen or read our entire National Security series. Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Watch the full video version from Epigen Technology in Arlington, VA on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.The opinions presented on the The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are the opinions of our guests and creator and host Fran Racioppi. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Green Beret Foundation and the Green Beret Foundation assumes no liability for their accuracy; nor does Green Beret Foundation endorse any political candidate or any political party.Highlights:0:00 Introduction2:16 We’re in a grey war5:52 The Chief Security Officer7:33 Assessing risk15:12 Public-Private Security Partnership20:24 Starting as an intern24:13 Building a successful team33:05 Leading in a massive organization37:15 Embracing a security culture39:50 The relationship between safety and security46:36 Duty of care50:45 The rise of insider threats55:22 Boeing on 9/1159:15 Airplane cyber-security1:04:23 Next generation of security leadership1:10:34 Hostage US1:20:00 Daily Foundations of SuccessQuotes“I think we’re in a grey war.” “The Chief Security Officer at most corporations is a thinker. They’re a strategist. They’re a risk manager.”“You can’t go into a CEO everyday and the sky is falling. You lose your credibility.” “Different leaders have different risk tolerances.” “Be empathetic with people doing jobs that don’t get a lot of fanfare.”“The longer I was in a leadership role, the more I valued when people told me ‘that wasn’t very good.” “We ran security like a business. We tried to demystify what we did.” “I didn’t want to be viewed as a necessary evil. I wanted to be viewed as a necessity.”“The worst thing you can do is deliver a product that’s already been compromised to the warfighter.” “If you only call people when you need something, you don’t have a relationship.”

On Veterans Day we celebrate our military from every service  and every generation. Freedom requires people of character to stand up for America…no matter the challenge. This Veterans Day, the Jedburgh Podcast, the Jedburgh Media Channel and the Green Beret Foundation are proud to announce our partnership with the University of Health and Performance outside of Bentonville, Arkansas. Dedicated to providing our transitioning service members with the skills needed to build careers in health and fitness, and as entrepreneurs, UHP is leading the way in showing private industry just how valuable our Veterans will be for the next generation of America. While at UHP, Fran Racioppi spent some time with Senator John Boozman, an Arkansas native and the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations. Senator Boozman is the son of an Air Force Master Sergeant and has made national security a top priority of his service.The Senator and Fran discussed his initiatives to improve quality of life for service members and their families, why building world class facilities is critical to recruiting, and how national security is the foundation of a strong economy. They also shared why all leaders need to bring the country together to get things done for the American people.HIGHLIGHTS0:00 Introduction1:50 Welcome to the University of Health and Performance2:37 Veterans Day in Arkansas4:52 Modernization of military infrastructure6:46 Investing for the next fight 8:13 Senate priorities post election11:53 Bringing America togetherQUOTES“We talk about Veterans. It always is a family affair. The whole family signs up.” “We’ve got Canada and Mexico as our neighbors. We fight a little bit. It’s like family. You scrabble, but your friends. We like each other.”“I do think our country’s divided. We need to bring it together.” “In the Senate the reality is in order to get something passed it has to be somewhat bipartisan.” “The harder you work to help your teammate, the better off you are.”Watch, listen or read all our Veterans Day coverage from UHP. The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are an official program of The Green Beret Foundation. Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform, read on our website, and watch the full video version on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.The opinions presented on the The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are the opinions of the guests and the host. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Green Beret Foundation and the Green Beret Foundation assumes no liability for their accuracy.

On Veterans Day we celebrate our military from every service  and every generation. Freedom requires people of character to stand up for America…no matter the challenge. This Veterans Day, the Jedburgh Podcast, the Jedburgh Media Channel and the Green Beret Foundation are proud to announce our partnership with the University of Health and Performance outside of Bentonville, Arkansas. Dedicated to providing our transitioning service members with the skills needed to build careers in health and fitness, and as entrepreneurs, UHP is leading the way in showing private industry just how valuable our Veterans will be for the next generation of America. While at UHP, Fran Racioppi had the chance to sit down with Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the youngest Governor in America and one of only 13 female Governors across the country. Governor Sanders is a staunch advocate for up-skilling transitioning Veterans and is working hard to ensure Arkansas has the resources and job opportunities to bring Veterans to the state. The Governor and Fran discussed her Veterans initiatives, her outlook now that the 2024 election is decided, and how it is incumbent upon all leaders to bring the country together to get things done for the American people.HIGHLIGHTS0:00 Introduction1:46 Welcome to the University of Health and Performance2:12 Veterans Day in Arkansas3:08 Arkansas is upskilling Veterans4:22 Women Governors are changing America 5:23 America post-election6:36 Can America come together?QUOTES“Creating an atmosphere that allows us to keep Veterans right here in Arkansas is a great thing.” “We want this to be the best place for Veterans to call home.” “Having women in leadership I think is absolutely critical to the long term success of our county.” “We have to focus on things everybody can agree on and things that  lift our country up.” “Remember where the enemies are; and it’s not within our own country.” The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are an official program of The Green Beret Foundation. Watch, listen or read all our Veterans Day coverage. Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform and watch us on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.The opinions presented on the The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are the opinions of the guests and the host Fran Racioppi. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Green Beret Foundation and the Green Beret Foundation assumes no liability for their accuracy.

Hostage diplomacy is an ugly game. For decades America’s adversaries have imprisoned US citizens in an effort to leverage diplomatic, economic or military advantage. These cases range from exaggerated charges, to disproportionate penalties, to outright lies. Each case is different. And each case affects both the lives of the incarcerated, their families and ultimately American power. Jose Pereira was held prisoner by the Venezuelan government for five years. He was the CEO of Citgo and after a Thanksgiving Day meeting in Caracas, he and five other Citgo executives were arrested and charged with bribery, corruption and other false charges. They became known as the Citgo 6.   Jose joined Fran Racioppi to share the story of his captivity, his year long solitary detention in the Submarine, starvation, sickness, sham trials, and his time in a coma. Jose talks about his mental battles with depression and suicidal ideation.Like all great leaders, Jose sought solutions using the buckets his food was delivered in as a clandestine courier service to exchange letters with his wife. These letters kept him alive, gave him hope and now serve as the foundation to his new book “From Hero To Villain: My True Story of the Citgo 6.” Special thanks to Hostage US for supporting the families of American hostages and those wrongfully detained, as well hostages and detainees when they return home.HIGHLIGHTS0:00 Welcome Home3:39 Summoned to Venezuela7:51 Surviving the first 48 hours16:05 Bargaining chips for oil20:09 Smuggling letters in food23:58 The toll on the family28:07 Captive with Green Berets30:24 Prisoner Swap38:47 Hostage Diplomacy41:34 The challenges of coming home45:51 The role of Hostage US49:19 The healing process51:01 Daily Foundations to SuccessQUOTESFor us, Thanksgiving became kind of a nightmare.” “Nobody was prepared because this was a sham situation.”“They target high profile people because they need to leverage you.”“I stayed 10 months in total confinement.”“In those containers I found that you could put a double bottom.”“Your family is a hostage even worse than you. They are a spiritual and mental hostage.” “Bring the American back no matter the tool that you need to use.” “You are literally caught in a time machine. You are literally in a cage for five years.”The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are an official program of The Green Beret Foundation. Watch, listen or read our conversation from Epigen Technology in Arlington, VA. Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform and watch the full video version on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.The opinions presented on the The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are the opinions of the guests and the host. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Green Beret Foundation and the Green Beret Foundation assumes no liability for their accuracy.