What’s it really like to be the voice on the other end of a 911 call?

In this episode of All In. Always., I sit down with a former 911 dispatcher to talk about life behind the headset—from the technology and training to handling frantic callers, long shifts, difficult calls, and what happens when the headset finally comes off.

This is the side of 911 most of us never get to see.

From rotary phones and switchboards to GPS, CAD systems, and modern emergency communications centers, 911 has transformed dramatically over the last several decades. But behind every advancement in technology has always been a person answering the call.

In this episode of All In. Always., we look at the history of America’s 911 system—what emergency communication looked like before there was a universal number, how 911 came to be, and how dispatch evolved into the sophisticated system we rely on today.

We’ll explore the early days of telephone operators and separate police, fire, and ambulance numbers, the introduction and expansion of 911, the challenges created by cellular phones, Enhanced 911, Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD), modern location technology, and the people working behind the headset.

Because when someone calls 911, the dispatcher may be the first person they reach during the worst moment of their life.

And this episode sets the stage for what comes next.

🎙️ NEXT: Behind the Headset — A Conversation With a 911 Dispatcher

We’ll sit down with a former dispatcher to talk about what the job is really like—the calls, the pressure, the responsibility, and the person behind the voice.

All In. Always.
Stories of service, leadership, sacrifice, and the people who answer the call.

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Some of the most important missions of my Navy career are the ones I still can’t fully talk about.

In this episode of All In. Always., I continue my 24-year Navy story with my assignment to Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay, where I joined VPU-2 — Special Projects. It was a completely different operational world: specialized P-3 aircraft, emerging technology, 23-person crews, and missions that required absolute trust from everyone onboard. Some details remain protected by the security agreements I signed, so I share only what I’m comfortable discussing publicly.

Our missions took us from Hawaii to places including Kuwait, Djibouti, and the Philippines, conducting overland surveillance, identifying patterns of movement, maintaining eyes on areas of interest, providing overwatch, and helping build situational awareness for those making decisions on the ground.

But this episode isn't only about the missions.

I talk about finally getting the opportunity to grow into my role as a Chief Petty Officer, leading Sailors in the fleet, mentoring Chief selectees, and learning that real leadership looks very different outside the controlled environment of Navy boot camp.

And then there was Hawaii itself.

When I wasn't overseas, I was home with my family—riding my Harley around Oahu with my wife, hiking and exploring with my kids, island hopping for our anniversaries, and creating some of the best memories of our lives. It was an incredible contrast: secure compounds and long missions overseas, followed by ocean air, mountain roads and family life in paradise.

Finally, I tell the story of something I knew eventually had to happen:

My last flight in the P-3 Orion.

One final preflight. One final engine start. One final checklist from the Flight Engineer seat. A flight over Kauai. And eventually, one final shutdown before walking away from an aircraft that had defined such a huge part of my life and Navy career.

This episode also brings the chronological story of my 24-year United States Navy career to a close. The final stop would be Millington, Tennessee, where the mission changed again—and where I eventually watched my own son graduate from Navy boot camp.

⚓ All In. Always. is about service, sacrifice, leadership, and the people behind the uniform.

If you've served in the P-3 community, VPU, VP, Naval Aviation, or simply have a military story of your own, leave a comment and tell me about it. I'd like the next chapter of this podcast to include more of your stories too.

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