The FireDawg Podcast

In Episode 66 , Matt sits down with Flip Griffin. Flip’s journey spans from Navy corpsman to Search and Rescue professional, ultimately serving as a Command Master Chief—one of the highest enlisted leadership roles in the Navy—before transitioning into fire service leadership consulting.
This conversation dives into the realities of Naval Search and Rescue, the scope of military medical and aviation support, and the leadership responsibilities that come with operating in complex, mission-driven environments. Flip shares how his experiences shaped his leadership philosophy, emphasizing the critical role of communication, accountability, and structured systems in building effective teams.
Matt and Flip also explore the transition from military service to consulting, discussing the creation of leadership frameworks and how those principles apply directly to the fire service. From generational challenges to organizational culture, this episode provides actionable insights for leaders at every level.
Whether you’re in the fire service, military, or leading in any capacity, this episode offers practical takeaways on building stronger systems, developing people, and leading with purpose.

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 complex a wildfire at Vandenberg can become. During the incident, crews faced challenging conditions and a dangerous situation that ultimately resulted in a fire shelter deployment.
In this episode of the FireDawg Podcast, Matt sits down with Chief Mark Smith, who has served at Vandenberg since the early 1990s and has spent years studying and briefing these fires.
Together they discuss:
• The wildland fire environment at Vandenberg
• The events of the 1977 Honda Canyon Fire
• The creation of Vandenberg’s Hotshot program
• The 2016 Canyon Fire and shelter deployment
• Lessons learned that still apply today

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 Thomas, a nearly 20-year Air Force leader with experience spanning operational response and executive leadership, shares powerful response stories from his career. Together, we discuss autonomy on scene, deviation from SOPs, organizational accountability, and how leaders build firefighters who are prepared for the moment of truth.
Because readiness isn’t proven in routine calls.
It’s proven when everything is on the line.

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 cover:
How the tax system actually works (and why more OT doesn’t “tax all your income higher”)
The difference between deductions and credits
Traditional TSP vs Roth IRA considerations
“No Tax on OT” for federal firefighters — what qualifies and what doesn’t
Roth IRA contributions you can still make before the deadline
Common financial mistakes service members make
This episode is a little outside our normal programming — but it’s practical, timely, and designed to help firefighters avoid leaving money on the table.
If you’re a military or federal civilian firefighter, this one matters.

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 a first-hand account of serving as Incident Commander during a mayday.
Since that conversation, Chief Webb has retired from the Air Force after more than 32 years of service, concluding a military career that began in 1989 and culminated as Command Chief of the 919th Special Operations Wing. In this episode, we reflect on his military and civilian careers, the leadership lessons he’s learned over three decades of service, and the moments that most shaped him as a leader in both uniform and the fire service.
We also dive into a topic many professionals eventually face: what to do when you don’t get the job you applied for or the position you truly wanted. Chief Webb shares a personal experience with professional disappointment, how he processed it, what he did next, and how leaders can turn non-selection into growth.
This conversation is about leadership, resilience, and navigating careers when the path doesn’t go exactly as planned.