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Leadership Practices and Decision Making in High Stress Environments by Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Tom Di Tomasso

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Leadership Practices and Decision Making in High Stress Environments by Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Tom Di Tomasso Petaluma Fire Department Presents Leadership Practices and Decision Making in High Stress Environments By retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Tom Di Tomasso The greatest responsibility a person can have is to lead others. This seminar is all about Leadership. It doesn’t matter what your occupation is; if you are in charge of people, this seminar is for you. This is an opportunity to explore different techniques and evaluate your personal leadership practices. (R) LTC Di Tomasso presents an interesting parallel to fire and police organizations where mastering the basics, preparation and training, commitment to chain of command and team effectiveness are essential tools to the success of any organization whose mission is to protect and serve. This class will draw from lessons learned about leadership during stressful events, to include Tom’s personal experience as a platoon leader in the Battle of Mogadishu (depicted in the book and movie Blackhawk Down ). Tom also draws from his current experience as a leader during recent combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. On October 3, 1993, Task Force Ranger launched an operation in Mogadishu, Somalia aimed at capturing key members of the Somali National Alliance. The operation succeeded in apprehending twenty-four suspects, including two key aides to General Aidid. During the course of the operation, two U.S. helicopters were shot down igniting an eighteen-hour firefight that would leave eighteen Americans and hundreds of Somalis dead to include two Medal of Honor recipients. The tactical success of Task Force Ranger against a numerically superior enemy can be attributed to their initiative, training, valor and leadership. Although a strategic failure, the tactical and leadership lessons from the Battle of the Black Sea would serve the US well in our surprisingly new fight against terrorism in the upcoming decade. As a participant and leader in the Battle of Mogadishu, recently retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Tom Di Tomasso describes enduring leadership lessons useful to current and future small unit leaders of any organization. He describes what it takes to lead men in combat - the greatest responsibility anyone could have - and how a seasoned leadership model can be used in any organization. Although this battlefield vignette concentrates on the Battle of the Black Sea in Mogadishu Somalia, he also draws on personal lessons learned from recent battles fought in Afghanistan and Iraq. LTC Tom Di Tomasso served in the Army for twenty years leading soldiers in combat and training. His assignments include the 10th Mountain Division, 1st Infantry Division and the 3rd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment where he earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart as a member of Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu Somalia in 1993; some of his exploits were later depicted in the movie Black Hawk Down . In 1998, he was selected and assigned to the United States Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, where he served as a Troop Commander, Operations Officer, Squadron Commander and Deputy Commander. He has multiple combat deployments to Somalia, Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq. Most recently, LTC Di Tomasso served as a Joint Special Operations Task Force Commander in Iraq responsible for more than twelve hundred special operations forces and government agency personnel. Selected for promotion to Colonel, he holds a Masters Degree in Military Studies and is currently the Vice President of Ground Operations for Fulcrum Concepts LLC; a network of seasoned professionals and leaders, where he provides Leadership Training and Operational Consulting. When: October 30 th 8:30 – 5:00 Where: Petaluma Community Center - 320 N. McDowell Blvd, Petaluma Cost: $30 Make checks payable to City of Petaluma Fire Dept. or pay at the door, no credit cards please RSVP to Battalion Chief Jeff Holden @ [email protected] or call 707-778-4390 .
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