The Debrief with Jon Becker is a no-holds-barred conversational podcast on the leadership principles that govern the world’s elite tactical units. Featuring top military and law enforcement unit commanders from some of the most high-stakes fields, this podcast examines how to form and lead a highly effective team. After four decades spent working in tandem with top law enforcement and military units, Jon has gained invaluable lessons in leadership, teamwork, communication, and training. Now, he is sharing these lessons through conversations with some of these amazing team leaders. The goal of the show is to make us all better leaders, thinkers, and people. In each episode, The Debrief shares lessons in decision-making, training, personnel selection, and perseverance that apply to people from all walks of life. Our host Jon Becker, is an expert in tactical equipment; working with some of the world’s top-performing teams. The Debrief is Jon’s payback to the community, units, and leaders who trained him and helped make AARDVARK a success. With this show, Jon invites listeners to benefit from the same insights and stories that have shaped his career and how he views leadership. Learn more at thedebrief.live
In this critical episode, Jon Becker examines the hidden epidemic of blast-induced brain injuries affecting tactical operators, breachers, and military personnel. Following groundbreaking New York Times reporting that led to congressional action, this five-year investigation reveals how repeated exposure to overpressure from breaching charges, flashbangs, and weapons fire causes microscopic brain damage often misdiagnosed as PTSD. Featuring insights from leading researchers, affected operators, grieving families, and Harvard medical experts, this episode provides essential context on the science behind blast injuries and actionable frameworks for protecting your teams while research continues.
Culture First Leadership
In this special episode, Jon Becker turns the tables and becomes the guest on his own show to discuss his new book "Culture First: Nine Leadership Practices That Build Elite Teams." Drawing from four decades of working with top-tier law enforcement and military units worldwide, Becker explores why some organizations consistently produce elite teams while others struggle despite having the same policies, equipment, and training. He reveals that the differentiating factor isn't tactics or gear—it's culture, which serves as the operating system for high-performance organizations across law enforcement, military, sports, and corporate environments. Buy Now
Hostage Rescue with IED Threat
In this gripping episode, Jon Becker sits down with Greg Roy to dissect a complex hostage rescue operation that began as a planned home invasion at 2:30 AM. Roy walks through the tactical response when an ex-boyfriend took multiple family members hostage at gunpoint, including the challenging dynamics of operating with incomplete intelligence and the critical decision-making process for SWAT deployment. The discussion reveals the intricate layers of this multi-generational hostage situation and highlights the importance of integrated team responses, including negotiations and bomb disposal units, when facing unknown explosive threats during high-stakes operations.
DME-11 - HR with IEDs
DME-11 - HR with IEDs
K9/SWAT Integration with LASD-SEB
Canine integration into SWAT operations has evolved significantly, with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Special Enforcement Bureau leading the charge since the 1990s. In this episode, Jon sits down with John Montenegro and Steve Williams from LASD-SEB to examine their pioneering approach to K9/SWAT integration, where canines and operators function as a single team with complementary capabilities. Montenegro and Williams share tactical insights from decades of experience, debrief actual cases demonstrating effective canine deployment, and discuss lessons learned in building successful integration programs. Essential listening for tactical teams considering or refining their K9 integration strategies.
Taking Down a Serial Killer
On June 14, 2020, Butte County Sheriff's SWAT team executed what seemed like a routine arrest warrant for an arson suspect on a remote mountain property. Using night vision for covert reconnaissance, the team discovered they had walked into an active attempted murder scene. The suspect was later identified as a serial killer responsible for three murders and two attempted murders. Lieutenant Josh Brazzi, SWAT Commander, and Sergeant Angelo Tavelli, Team Leader, share the harrowing details of this operation that saved a life and took down a dangerous predator. This episode examines tactical decision-making in rapidly evolving scenarios and the challenges of operating in remote, mountainous terrain.
DME010 - Arrest Warrant for Murder Suspect on Mountain Compound
DME010 - Arrest Warrant for Murder Suspect on Mountain Compound
Legacy Revisited - James Kerr
Jon Becker sits down with author James Kerr to revisit his groundbreaking book "Legacy" and explore what makes the All Blacks the most successful sports team in history. With a win ratio approaching 80% over 125 years, this New Zealand rugby powerhouse offers invaluable lessons on building elite culture and sustained excellence. Kerr breaks down the actionable principles that create championship-level performance, from "sweep the sheds" to "no dickheads" policies. For tactical professionals, these aren't abstract concepts—they're direct translations from one warrior culture to another, providing practical frameworks for leadership and team building in high-stakes environments.
LAPD D-Platoon's Approach to Hostage Rescue
In this episode of The Debrief, host Jon Becker sits down with LAPD SWAT's Jonathan Pultz, a 27-year veteran and D-Platoon element leader, to examine one of law enforcement's most critical missions: hostage rescue. With D-Platoon conducting 120-150 high-risk operations annually, Pultz brings unparalleled operational experience to discuss LAPD SWAT's methodologies and approach to hostage situations. Through detailed analysis of two recent operations, this conversation explores tactical decision-making, crisis negotiation integration, and the lessons learned from over five decades of SWAT operations. Essential listening for tactical operators seeking insights from one of the world's premier law enforcement units.
Improving Tactical Performance with Science
Guest: Dr. Nathalie Pattyn In this episode, Jon sits down with Dr. Nathalie Pattyn, whose unique background spans medicine, psychology, research, and military operations. Dr. Pattyn discusses her unconventional career path from aspiring astronaut to emergency physician to tactical performance researcher, including her work in extreme environments like Antarctica and space research. The conversation explores how scientific principles can improve tactical performance for law enforcement teams. Dr. Pattyn shares practical insights on decision-making under pressure, stress management, and optimizing human performance in high-stakes situations—essential knowledge for SWAT teams and tactical operators seeking evidence-based approaches to enhance their operational effectiveness.
Beyond the Loop: Why Everything You Know About OODA May Be Wrong
John Boyd's OODA loop is widely referenced but fundamentally misunderstood. Mark McGrath reveals how the common circular diagram represents less than one percent of Boyd's work. The real framework centers on orientation—constantly updating mental models through destruction and creation. This conversation explores entropy, uncertainty, and incompleteness as foundations for adaptive decision-making in tactical operations, business strategy, and leadership. Guest Information: Mark McGrath Marine Corps Veteran, Master's Degree in Economics, Author of 'The Whirl of Reorientation' Substack, Co-Host of 'No Way Out' Podcast
Barricade Erupts into Urgent HRT When Freed Victim Returns to Hostage Taker
A three-month homicide investigation in Washington State led to a suspect barricaded in a vehicle inside a garage. What began as a routine containment evolved into a seven-hour standoff, which suddenly escalated when the freed domestic violence victim returned to the residence and was taken hostage. Joel Anderson and Bob Shaw detail the tactical challenges of coordinating Pierce County and Washington State Patrol SWAT teams through multiple operational phases—from vehicle barricade to urgent hostage rescue—all while managing the unpredictable dynamics of a DV relationship and a suspect determined to avoid capture. GUEST INFORMATION Joel Anderson Tactical Commander, Washington State Patrol SWAT Team, Vice President of Washington State Tactical Officers Association Bob Shaw Patrol Sergeant, Pierce County Sheriff's Department SWAT Team, Washington State Tactical Officers Association Cadre Member
DME 09 - Barricade Erupts into Urgent HRT
DME 09 - Barricade Erupts into Urgent HRT
DME 08 - South Davis UT Family Hostage Rescue & HRT
DME 08
Pursuit Leads to Unrelated Family Hostage Situation and HRT
In September of 2021 a suspect involved in a carjacking and attempted homicide led police in a vehicle pursuit that ended in a car crash in Farmington Utah. The suspect fled on foot across Interstate 15 into a residential neighborhood prompting patrol officers to establish a perimeter and begin a search with a K9 unit. During the search a single gunshot was heard, South Davis Metropolitan SWAT and North Davis Metropolitan SWAT were both activated to conduct a house -to-house search. Operators discovered a bullet hole in a residence window, and shortly after, a male exited nearby home in a vehicle. He was stopped and informed operators that his family was being held hostage and that the suspect had sent him to check for police. As operators moved toward the residence, a juvenile female escaped through a window. Debriefing the father and daughter, it became clear that three more hostages remained inside the home with an armed suspect. Negotiated side and a handgun was recovered next to his body. My guest today is Lieutenant Andrew Smith. Andrew began his law enforcement career with the Utah Highway Patrol in 2008. In 2011, he left the highway and began working for the West Bountiful Police Department. He joined the South Davis Metropolitan SWAT team in 2012 and eventually moved to the Bountiful City Police Department in 2013, where he worked his way through various assignments and promoted to the rank of lieutenant and team commander of the South Davis Metropolitan SWAT team. Anders held numerous leadership positions in the department, including FTO, lead scout, entry team member, and assistant team leader, and is currently the South Davis Metropolitan SWAT team commander. He's been honored with numerous unit citations as a member of the police department and SWAT team, including his involvement in two hostage rescue operations and two Bountiful City Police Department chief stars, one of which was for his response to an active shooter at a local junior high. Contact Info: Lt Andrew Smith – asmith@bountiful.gov Books Legacy by James Kerr – ISBN-13 - 978-1472103536
Tactical Longevity – Dr. Jenny Prohaska
My guest today is Dr. Jenny Prohaska, a clinical psychologist who has spent her career on the front lines of trauma and high-stakes performance. Jenny trained in neuro -rehabilitation psychology at the University of Kansas Medical Center, working with patients and staff in trauma, ICU, and burn units, where she built her expertise in how the brain and body adapt to extreme stress. For more than a decade, Jenny has brought that expertise into policing and tactical operations. She's force science certified and consults on more than 30 officer -involved shootings a year, as well as hundreds of other critical incidents. Jenny’s conducted thousands of pre-hire psychological evaluations, giving her deep expertise in what makes officers and teams thrive or deteriorate under pressure. She's also built and trained more than two dozen peer support teams across the country and today consults for more than 50 public safety agencies. Jenny's also a sought-after speaker for national organizations. She's a founder of tactical longevity, a first -of -its -kind, pre-incident anti -fragility training framework designed to prepare officers and tactical teams to withstand the cumulative stress of their job. I'm excited to talk to Jenny because I've been a fan of her work for a number of years, and I believe that antifragility and prehabilitation programs promoting this concept of tactical longevity and talking about it and teaching. Links Tactical Longevity | Anti-Fragility Training Books What Happened to You? Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey – ISBN-13 – 978-1250223180
DME 007 - Bakersfield PD Hostage Rescue
Hostage Rescue Under Explosive Threat - Bakersfield PD SWAT
On October 12th, 2020, Bakersfield police responded to a hospital on a domestic violence call to a female who had been hit in the head with a hammer by her ex-husband. When patrol officers arrived at the suspect's house, the male suspect exited the home, screaming at police and threw an improvised explosive device at officers. Negotiations with the suspect began, who initially appeared to be negotiating in good faith, But after two hours, it became apparent the suspect was not going to comply, and the Bakersfield Special Operations Group was activated. In the ensuing 12 -hour standoff, the team became aware that the suspect had his four-year-old son with him and was an Army combat veteran who had explosive devices in the home. With me today are Captain Ted King and Sergeant Travis Harless from Bakersfield Police to discuss the case.
Left of Bang Revisited with Patrick Van Horne
My guest today is Patrick Van Horne. Patrick is the co- author of Left Of Bang: How the Marine Corps combat hunter program can save your life. He is also the co-founder of the CP journal where he supports clients in preventing, preparing for, and proactively responding to disasters, disruptions and acts of violence. After starting his career is an infantry officer in the Marine Corps following the September 11 attacks, Patrick has supported public and private sector organizations in disaster, preparedness and violence prevention initiative as an entrepreneur, consultant, local emergency manager and volunteer for over 20 years. Patrick’s book Left Of Bang described an innovative program that taught deploying marines how to proactively recognize threats, assess human behavior and gain an advantage over the nation’s adversary. This approach has since been adopted by organizations around the world to prepare for an uncertain future, prevent violence, enhance healthcare delivery, focus cyber security operations, tailor educational programs and improve decision-making. Links Homepage: www.cp-journal.com The Evolution of Left of Bang (this article shows how the topic/idea has grown and expanded since the book was published). The Tactical Analysis Course (this is the overview page of the video-based course of the behaviors and approach written about in the book). Books Mastery - Robert Greene - ISBN-13: 978-1101601020 The Warrior Ethos- Stephen Pressfield - ISBN-13: 978-1936891009
Lessons Learned from the Tree of Life Synagogue Response
On October 27, 2018 a lone gunman entered the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, PA with the intent of killing anyone he could. Tree of Life was the home to three different congregations, Tree of Life, New Light, and Dor Haddash, all of which were preparing for or having their normal shabbat services. What followed was the deadliest attack on the Jewish Community in American history. 11 innocent people were killed, and a further 6 were injured. This attack is the subject of our documentary called Confronting Hate, where we dealt with the attack and aftermath in detail. However, we wanted to make a more traditional episode of The Debrief to cover the team’s lessons learned from the event and their advice to other units. In this episode, we will hear from several of the responding members of Pittsburgh SWAT. As usual, we will not mention the shooters name or discuss his agenda because we are hoping time will erase him and the hate he hoped to propagate.
