Calm in the Chaos - U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer Podcast

Some warriors fight their battles in the ocean. Others fight them long after the uniform comes off. In this episode of Calm in the Chaos, Kevin McNease shares 20 years of service as a U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer—including a harrowing rescue in the South China Sea, pulling a Marine from the water who was still gripping his weapon, and one of the most terrifying mechanical failures imaginable:...

Some missions go wrong before they even begin. Others turn into something no one could have planned for. In this episode of Calm in the Chaos, Richard Swope shares his career as a U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer—including two of the most intense moments a rescue swimmer can face: surviving a helicopter crash at night in the open ocean during an active rescue, and gaining sonobuoy contact on a Ru...

When NASA's Orion capsule splashed down in the Pacific off the coast of San Diego, four astronauts came home from the Moon for the first time in over 50 years. And right there—feet from the capsule, voice on the radio, eyes on every moving piece—was a U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer. In this episode of Calm in the Chaos, Sean “Sondy” Sondergaard takes us inside one of the most historic recov...

For the first time, Apollo-era and Artemis-era recovery are compared side by side by the people who actually did the job. Mike Longe, U.S. Navy helicopter aircrewman from the Apollo recovery missions, and Steve Williams, Senior Chief rescue swimmer supporting Artemis operations, break down what really happens when a capsule hits the water. Same mission. Different era. We walk through the full evol...

Combat Search and Rescue Veteran Bryan Trembath | 10 Gulf Deployments, 300+ Missions, Pentagon 9/11 First Response Some careers are built in training. Others are forged in real-world missions. In this episode of Calm in the Chaos , Bryan Trembath shares 21 years as an Aviation Rescue Swimmer, including 10 deployments to the Gulf and over 300 direct action missions in Combat Search and Rescue. His...

Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer Ben Thacker | Real SAR Rescues from NAS Whidbey Island, Leadership & Decision-Making Under Pressure What does it take to execute real-world rescues when there’s no margin for error? In this episode of Calm in the Chaos , Aviation Rescue Swimmer Ben Thacker breaks down multiple live rescue missions out of NAS Whidbey Island SAR. This is a look inside the reality of...

Greg Baker spent 20 years as a U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer, operating where hesitation costs lives and preparation is everything. From multiple real-world rescues to serving as a SAR School instructor responsible for shaping future Rescue Swimmers, Greg understands what separates average from dependable. He finished his career supporting Naval Special Warfare, operating in intense environmen...

Bob Nowak brings more than three decades of real-world Search and Rescue experience—from the Vietnam era to Whidbey Island SAR, from high-risk recoveries to serving as a SAR Evaluator responsible for training and assessing the next generation. This episode is about longevity in service, the weight of responsibility, and the mindset required to lead when conditions deteriorate. In this episode: • 3...

I deployed twice to the Persian Gulf with Jeff Strickland , a brother who went on to serve more than two decades as a U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer and aircrewman . His career spanned multiple combat deployments, high-risk rescues, and unforgettable missions — including flying Iraq mission sets with SEAL sniper Jack Carr , and an intense injured SEAL medevac following a ship takedown. In this...

Few people understand pressure like Aviation Rescue Swimmer Taryn Frazelle . A high-performance athlete and ranked CrossFit competitor, Taryn brought that same strength and discipline into the fleet—where staying calm isn’t optional, it’s life or death. During one intense mission near Papua New Guinea , a routine flight turned into a high-risk remote island rescue. Conditions were chaotic and the...

Over two decades in the Navy, Aviation Rescue Swimmer David Allen built a career defined by courage and commitment. During one harrowing mission in the Persian Gulf , a ship was going down — and David launched in a CH-46 helicopter into chaos. That rescue would earn him the Navy and Marine Corps Medal , one of the highest awards for heroism not involving combat. After that, David continued to serv...

Jeremy Way has spent 17 years as an active-duty U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer , responding to high-risk rescues where seconds matter and hesitation costs lives. Recently, Jeremy found himself in the headlines for a rescue that happened off duty . While eating lunch, he witnessed a woman drive her car into the water. Without waiting for responders, Jeremy and others entered the water and reache...

With multiple deployments and decades of service, Jason Barney embodies what it means to be a lifelong student and leader. From his early days as a Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer to serving as CNO SAR Model Manager and with HSC-85 , Jason’s career has been defined by excellence, mentorship, and innovation. In this episode of Calm in the Chaos , Jason shares stories from his time in the Navy, the les...

For ten years , Tommy Maxwell served as a U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer , operating under pressure, saving lives, and learning from some of the best — including the late Master Chief Tony DiCenso , a legend in the SAR community. Now out of the military, Tommy has shifted his mission — from rescuing people to educating and inspiring others through wildlife storytelling . On his popular YouTube...

When Hurricane Katrina unleashed chaos across the Gulf Coast, Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer Tim Hawkins was sent into the storm. In the middle of the devastation, he faced an unthinkable decision — save a life or risk losing his. This episode of Calm in the Chaos dives into the real rescue missions of Hurricane Katrina , told by one of the men who lived it. Tim Hawkins shares what it meant to opera...

He started as a non-designated airman aboard a Navy ship — no rating, no clear path forward. But through discipline, faith, and relentless drive, Laurquis earned his wings as an Aviation Rescue Swimmer , mastering one of the Navy’s toughest training pipelines. His journey didn’t stop there — he rose again, becoming a Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) , leading sailors on the high seas. In this episode...

In this powerful episode of Calm in the Chaos , I sit down with Jay Shropshire , retired Senior Chief, Aviation Rescue Swimmer — a brother I went through training with. Jay opens up about the catastrophic Navy helicopter crash in Kuwait that everyone miraculously survived, and the invisible battles that followed after 23 years of dedication to serving our country. We talk about survival, purpose,...

Collin Koss built a remarkable Navy career as a Rescue Swimmer, performing multiple rescues at sea before witnessing one of the most harrowing moments imaginable — an F/A-18 ejection that struck the back of the carrier. Later, Collin made the jump to officer, leading from the front and shaping the next generation of sailors. Now, with retirement on the horizon, he reflects on a career of service,...

Before joining the Navy, John Brown was selling surf gear in Florida. Soon after, he was jumping from helicopters as a Rescue Swimmer on multiple deployments, later advancing through SWTI — the “Top Gun” for rotary aviation — and finishing his career shaping the next generation as an instructor. In this episode, John shares the grind of fleet life, the intensity of advanced training, and the respo...

Chris Vliet’s journey is one of resilience, survival, and service. A former U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer, Chris lived through some of the most intense training and unique missions the Navy has to offer before transitioning to a career as a firefighter. In this powerful episode, Chris opens up about his time as a Navy Rescue Swimmer, the lessons he carried into firefighting, and his near-death...

Dave Hewitt dedicated 20 years of his life to the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Rescue Swimmer.. Over the course of his career, Dave performed three dramatic rescues — each one a testament to skill, courage, and dedication. In this episode, Dave shares the highs and lows of a life at sea, including one tragic mission where a pilot was lost due to a decision made by another pilot — a choice completely o...

Mike Dobson, a U.S. Navy Aircrewman and Door Gunner with Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron Three — HA(L)-3, served heroically in the Vietnam War, flying into the most dangerous combat zones to rescue wounded troops and protect fellow service members. In this powerful episode, Mike shares firsthand accounts of life as a Navy Seawolf, the intense firefights over the Mekong Delta, and the courage it...

In this episode, I sit down with my good friend and former SAR brother, Steve Ayers, a retired U.S. Navy Chief Warrant Officer 4 who spent three decades in naval aviation, performing every mission a helicopter is capable of and more. Steve shares stories from high-risk search and rescue operations, the intensity and lessons of SERE school, and his unforgettable winging party. It’s a candid, person...

Logan Warner’s U.S. Navy career took him into some of the most dangerous skies on earth— 9 combat deployments to Iraq as part of an elite Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) team. In this episode, Logan shares the gripping story of being part of the first direct action mission since Vietnam , flying into enemy territory under heavy fire with tracers cutting through the night sky— and miraculously maki...

James Brocksmith served in the U.S. Navy during the 1980s before pursuing his lifelong dream of becoming an airline pilot. In this episode, James shares how the discipline, precision, and calm-under-pressure mindset of a Navy Rescue Swimmer became invaluable skills in the cockpit. CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST Episode 35 So Others May Live! 🫡🇺🇸 Keep Calm in the Chaos Merch (Link in bio or https://sho...