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

Brian Dickinson

Calm in the Chaos shares real rescue stories from the U.S. Navy’s Aviation Rescue Swimmers. Hosted by Brian Dickinson—bestselling author, former Navy Rescue Swimmer, and Everest solo summiteer. Ranked in the top 10% of podcasts worldwide, the show digs into the grit, mindset, and faith it takes to run toward the chaos so others may live. Support the mission at briandickinson.net. Not affiliated with the U.S. Navy or DoD.

  1. Jul 18

    A Secret Six-Day Mission Into Iraq & "The Only One Who Ever Rescued a Rescue Swimmer" | Aviation Rescue Swimmer Scott Haskell | Ep. 62

    Scott Haskell and his crewmate Tater have a standing joke: they're one of the only rescue swimmers who ever rescued a rescue swimmer. In this episode of Calm in the Chaos, Anthony Haskell shares 20 years in Naval Aviation—from a 100-mile scramble to recover a downed EA-6B crew, to a secret six-day mission into Iraq to bring home an ejected F-18 pilot, to a flight deck wire-snap that nearly took his crew out and earned his aircraft a painted purple heart. After the Navy, he kept saving lives as a drill instructor, combat pool instructor, police officer, and lifeguard trainer. In this episode: The 100-mile scramble to recover a downed EA-6B crew—and the "rescued a rescue swimmer" story that followedA secret six-day mission into Iraq to search for a downed F-18 pilotFinding him in a salt lake near Karbala—and the honor guard that met the aircraftA flight deck wire-snap during an F-18 ejection that injured deck crew and earned his helicopter a painted purple heartBecoming a drill instructor and training non-swimmers at the "combat pool"Earning his first official live rescue at HS-14 Two decades of recoveries, rescues, and near-misses—and a career that never stopped saving people, in or out of uniform. 👉 Subscribe, share, and leave a review. It helps more veterans, first responders, and families find these stories. CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST — Episode 62 So Others May Live. 🫡🇺🇸 Rescue Swimmer Merchandise https://shop.calminthechaospodcast.com Military & First Responders: Use code SARRESCUE10 for 10% off 100% of proceeds support the podcast 📖 Calm in the Chaos — The Book by Brian Dickinson Available at www.briandickinson.net📩 Booking & Media Inquiries: podcast@briandickinson.net For more content, subscribe and follow @TheCalmintheChaosPodcast:Twitter: https://x.com/briancdickinson/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandickinson/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/briancdickinsonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/briancdickinson Calm in the Chaos: The Rescue Swimmer Podcast Untold Stories from U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmers #RescueSwimmer #NavyRescueSwimmer #AviationRescueSwimmer #CalmInTheChaos #IraqWar #F18 #CSAR #SearchAndRescue #SAR #NavalAviation #USNavy #NavyVeteran #MilitaryVeteran #FlightDeck #CarrierAviation #DrillInstructor #LawEnforcement #LifeguardInstructor #SoOthersMayLive #MilitaryPodcast #VeteranStories #ResiliencePodcast #ServiceAndSacrifice #BrianDickinson #VeteranPodcast #HonorTheFallen #LeaveNoManBehind

    A Secret Six-Day Mission Into Iraq & "The Only One Who Ever Rescued a Rescue Swimmer" | Aviation Rescue Swimmer Scott Haskell | Ep. 62

  2. Jul 18

    Dodging the USS Stark, a Minefield in the Persian Gulf & Sharks Under a Flipped Zodiac | Aviation Rescue Swimmer Bryan Huggett | Ep. 61

    A last-minute decision to re-enlist and go home to get married kept Bryan Huggett off the USS Stark—just months before it was struck by two Iraqi Exocet missiles. In this episode of Calm in the Chaos, Bryan shares 20 years of service split between the U.S. Navy and the Michigan Army National Guard: flying tanker escorts through Persian Gulf minefields during the Iran-Iraq War, rescuing a flipped Zodiac while sharks circled below, and later trading Navy wings for a decade as a Huey crew chief fighting wildfires and training Navy SEALs for Afghanistan. In this episode: The twist of fate that kept him off the USS Stark before it was hit by two Exocet missilesFlying tanker escort missions through Persian Gulf minefields during the Iran-Iraq WarThe night the USS Samuel B. Roberts hit a mine—and locking and loading on one of his ownRescuing a flipped Zodiac in the Atlantic, circled by sharksTrading Navy wings for a decade as a Huey crew chief in the Michigan Army National GuardTraining Navy SEAL Team 1 ahead of their deployment into Afghanistan Two branches, two decades, and one calm head no matter what got thrown at him. 👉 Subscribe, share, and leave a review. It helps more veterans, first responders, and families find these stories. CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST — Episode 61 So Others May Live. 🫡🇺🇸 Rescue Swimmer Merchandise https://shop.calminthechaospodcast.com Military & First Responders: Use code SARRESCUE10 for 10% off 100% of proceeds support the podcast 📖 Calm in the Chaos — The Book by Brian Dickinson Available at www.briandickinson.net📩 Booking & Media Inquiries: podcast@briandickinson.net For more content, subscribe and follow @TheCalmintheChaosPodcast:Twitter: https://x.com/briancdickinson/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandickinson/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/briancdickinsonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/briancdickinson Calm in the Chaos: The Rescue Swimmer Podcast Untold Stories from U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmers #RescueSwimmer #NavyRescueSwimmer #AviationRescueSwimmer #CalmInTheChaos #USSStark #PersianGulf #IranIraqWar #USSSamuelBRoberts #NavalAviation #USNavy #NavyVeteran #MilitaryVeteran #MichiganNationalGuard #ArmyNationalGuard #HueyCrewChief #SearchAndRescue #SAR #SEALTeam #NeverForget #SoOthersMayLive #MilitaryPodcast #VeteranStories #ResiliencePodcast #ServiceAndSacrifice #BrianDickinson #VeteranPodcast #HonorTheFallen

    Dodging the USS Stark, a Minefield in the Persian Gulf & Sharks Under a Flipped Zodiac | Aviation Rescue Swimmer Bryan Huggett | Ep. 61

  3. Jul 16

    Navy Rescue Swimmer Collin Koss – Multiple Rescues, F/A-18 Ejection, and the Journey to Officer

    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, sacrifice, and lessons that will last a lifetime. In this episode, Collin shares the highs and lows of his journey — from rescues in the fleet to the burden of command — and the perspective that only comes with decades in uniform. CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST Episode 43 So Others May Live! 🫡🇺🇸 Keep Calm in the Chaos Merch (Link in bio or https://shop.calminthechaospodcast.com) Military and First Responders get 10% discount with code: SARRESCUE10 applied at checkout 100% of proceeds go to support the podcast! #NavyRescueSwimmer #USNavy #HelicopterRescue #CombatRescue #MilitaryPodcast #NavalAviation #CarrierLife #F18 #RescueSwimmer #MilitaryLife #VeteranStories #SearchAndRescue #AviationPodcast #MilitaryHistory

    Navy Rescue Swimmer Collin Koss – Multiple Rescues, F/A-18 Ejection, and the Journey to Officer

  4. Jun 3

    20 Years, Parkinson’s Diagnosis & a Door Through the Rotors | Aviation Rescue Swimmer Kevin McNease

    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: losing a helicopter door mid-flight—only to watch it shred through the rotor system. And then there's the battle he's fighting now. Kevin has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. And he's facing it the same way he faced every mission—with courage, clarity, and calm in the chaos. In this episode: 20 years of service as a U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue SwimmerRescue in the South China SeaPulling a Marine from the water—still armed, still holding his weaponA helicopter door lost in flight—and what happened when it hit the rotorsMechanical failure at altitude with no margin for errorReceiving a Parkinson’s diagnosis after two decades of serviceWhat resilience really looks like when the mission becomes survival itselfThe mental and emotional weight carried by those who serve Kevin McNease gave 20 years to this nation. His story—every chapter of it—deserves to be heard. 👉 Subscribe, share, and leave a review. It helps more veterans, first responders, and families find these stories. CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST — Episode 58  So Others May Live. 🫡🇺🇸 Rescue Swimmer Merchandise https://shop.calminthechaospodcast.com Military & First Responders: Use code SARRESCUE10 for 10% off 100% of proceeds support the podcast 📖 Calm in the Chaos — The Book by Brian Dickinson Available at www.briandickinson.net 📩 Booking & Media Inquiries: podcast@briandickinson.net For more content, subscribe and follow @TheCalmintheChaosPodcast:  Twitter: https://x.com/briancdickinson/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandickinson/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/briancdickinson  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briancdickinson Calm in the Chaos: The Rescue Swimmer Podcast Untold Stories from U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmers #RescueSwimmer #NavyRescueSwimmer #AviationRescueSwimmer #CalmInTheChaos #Parkinsons #ParkinsonsWarrior #ParkinsonsAwareness #SouthChinaSea #NavyRescue #MarineCorps #HelicopterFailure #MechanicalFailure #NavalAviation #USNavy #NavyVeteran #MilitaryVeteran #VeteranHealth #SoOthersMayLive #SearchAndRescue #SAR #MilitaryPodcast #VeteranStories #ResiliencePodcast #MilitaryResilience #LeadershipUnderFire #MentalToughness #ServiceAndSacrifice #BrianDickinson #VeteranPodcast #HonorTheFallen

    20 Years, Parkinson’s Diagnosis & a Door Through the Rotors | Aviation Rescue Swimmer Kevin McNease

  5. Jun 3

    Helicopter Crash at Night + Russian Sub Contact | Aviation Rescue Swimmer Richard Swope

    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 Russian submarine trailing a U.S. aircraft carrier—moments before a collision with the carrier itself. These aren't training scenarios. These are the real missions that define what it means to operate at the edge of human capability—in the dark, in the water, with no margin for error. In this episode: Helicopter crash at night during an active ocean rescueSurviving open-ocean impact and the chaos that followedGaining sonobuoy contact on a Russian submarineNear-collision with a U.S. aircraft carrierDecision-making when everything goes wrong at onceMental toughness forged in real-world high-stakes missionsWhat it means to serve as a U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer Richard Swope's story is a masterclass in staying calm when the situation is anything but. This is exactly what the Calm in the Chaos podcast was built for. 👉 Subscribe, share, and leave a review. It helps more veterans, first responders, and families find these stories. CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST — Episode 57  So Others May Live. 🫡🇺🇸 Rescue Swimmer Merchandise https://shop.calminthechaospodcast.com Military & First Responders: Use code SARRESCUE10 for 10% off 100% of proceeds support the podcast 📖 Calm in the Chaos — The Book by Brian Dickinson Available at www.briandickinson.net 📩 Booking & Media Inquiries: podcast@briandickinson.net For more content, subscribe and follow @TheCalmintheChaosPodcast:  Twitter: https://x.com/briancdickinson/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandickinson/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/briancdickinson  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briancdickinson Calm in the Chaos: The Rescue Swimmer Podcast Untold Stories from U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmers #RescueSwimmer #NavyRescueSwimmer #AviationRescueSwimmer #CalmInTheChaos #HelicopterCrash #NavyHelicopter #RussianSubmarineContact #ColdWarNavy #AircraftCarrier #NavyMilitary #MilitaryPodcast #VeteranStories #SoOthersMayLive #USNavy #NavyVeteran #MilitaryVeteran #RescueMission #SearchAndRescue #SAR #NavalAviation #OpenOceanRescue #SurvivalStory #MilitaryStories #SpecialOperations #ResiliencePodcast #LeadershipPodcast #MentalToughness #MilitaryLeadership #BrianDickinson #VeteranPodcast

    Helicopter Crash at Night + Russian Sub Contact | Aviation Rescue Swimmer Richard Swope

  6. May 4

    Hoisted Down to the Orion Capsule | Artemis II Astronaut Recovery Rescue Swimmer Chris Upton | Ep. 60

    The whole world watched the Orion capsule splash down in the Pacific and the U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer hanging from a cable beneath an MH-60S Sea Hawk—lowered down to bring the astronauts home from the Moon. In this episode of Calm in the Chaos, Chris Upton shares what it was like to be one of the Aviation Rescue Swimmers on the hoist during the historic Artemis II recovery. After NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen splashed down off the coast of San Diego—returning from humanity's first lunar mission in over 50 years—Chris was part of the team trusted to physically bring them up out of the Pacific and onto the helicopter that would deliver them to the USS John P. Murtha. This is the view from the cable. Chris takes us inside the training, the rehearsals, the precision, and the quiet pressure of being the person at the end of the hoist when the world is watching—and four lives are in your hands. In this episode: Being lowered on the hoist during the Artemis II astronaut recoveryWhat it felt like to come face-to-face with astronauts returning from the MoonThe rehearsals, mockups, and training that prepared the team for splashdown dayFlying with HSC-23 and the precision required between pilot, crew chief, SMT, and swimmerWorking alongside the Navy dive medical team and NASA's Landing and Recovery teamBringing astronauts home one by one to the USS John P. MurthaThe legacy of Navy Rescue Swimmers in U.S. space recovery missionsWhat it means to be the last link in the chain that brings someone home Chris Upton was part of one of the most historic recovery missions in modern naval aviation. His story is a window into the quiet professionalism of the men and women who live by four words: So Others May Live. 👉 Subscribe, share, and leave a review. It helps more veterans, first responders, and families find these stories. CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST — Episode 60 So Others May Live. 🫡🇺🇸 Rescue Swimmer Merchandise https://shop.calminthechaospodcast.com Military & First Responders: Use code SARRESCUE10 for 10% off 100% of proceeds support the podcast 📖 Calm in the Chaos — The Book by Brian Dickinson Available at www.briandickinson.net  📩 Booking & Media Inquiries: podcast@briandickinson.net For more content, subscribe and follow @TheCalmintheChaosPodcast:  Twitter: https://x.com/briancdickinson/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandickinson/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/briancdickinson  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briancdickinson Calm in the Chaos: The Rescue Swimmer Podcast Untold Stories from U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmers #ArtemisII #Artemis2 #ArtemisIIRecovery #NASA #OrionCapsule #Splashdown #AstronautRecovery #MoonMission #ReidWiseman #VictorGlover #ChristinaKoch #JeremyHansen #USSJohnPMurtha #HSC23 #SeaHawk #MH60S #HelicopterRescue #HoistRescue #RescueSwimmer #NavyRescueSwimmer #AviationRescueSwimmer #CalmInTheChaos #NavyRecovery #NavalAviation #USNavy #NavyVeteran #MilitaryVeteran #SoOthersMayLive #SearchAndRescue #SAR #MilitaryPodcast #VeteranStories #ResiliencePodcast #LeadershipUnderFire #MentalToughness #ServiceAndSacrifice #BrianDickinson #VeteranPodcast #SpaceRecovery #NASARecovery #PacificOcean #SanDiego

    Hoisted Down to the Orion Capsule | Artemis II Astronaut Recovery Rescue Swimmer Chris Upton | Ep. 60

  7. May 4

    Artemis II Splashdown, Astronaut Recovery | Aviation Rescue Swimmer Sean Sondergaard | Ep. 59

    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 recovery missions in modern naval aviation history—the Artemis II astronaut recovery. From the safety boat positioned right next to the Orion capsule, Sean was coordinating communications between the divers, the helicopters, the recovery ship USS John P. Murtha, and NASA's Landing and Recovery team as Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen were brought home from lunar orbit. But Artemis II is just one chapter. Sean shares what it takes to earn the wings of a Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer, the missions that shaped him, and what it felt like to be part of a team trusted by NASA to bring astronauts safely back to Earth. In this episode: Inside the Artemis II splashdown and recovery operationWhat it's like to be in the safety boat next to the Orion capsuleCoordinating communications between divers, helicopters, NASA, and the recovery shipThe training that prepares Navy Rescue Swimmers for missions of this magnitudeAssigned to HSC-23, working with the Navy dive medical team, and the USS John P. MurthaBringing astronauts home from the Moon for the first time in over 50 yearsThe legacy of Navy recovery operations—from Mercury and Apollo to ArtemisWhat it means to wear the wings and live "So Others May Live"Sean Sondergaard's story is a reminder that behind every historic mission is a team of quiet professionals doing the hard, dangerous, precise work the world rarely sees. 👉 Subscribe, share, and leave a review. It helps more veterans, first responders, and families find these stories. CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST — Episode 59 So Others May Live. 🫡🇺🇸 Rescue Swimmer Merchandise https://shop.calminthechaospodcast.com Military & First Responders: Use code SARRESCUE10 for 10% off 100% of proceeds support the podcast 📖 Calm in the Chaos — The Book by Brian Dickinson Available at www.briandickinson.net  📩 Booking & Media Inquiries: podcast@briandickinson.net For more content, subscribe and follow @TheCalmintheChaosPodcast:  Twitter: https://x.com/briancdickinson/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandickinson/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/briancdickinson  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briancdickinson Calm in the Chaos: The Rescue Swimmer Podcast Untold Stories from U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmers #ArtemisII #Artemis2 #ArtemisIIRecovery #NASA #OrionCapsule #Splashdown #AstronautRecovery #MoonMission #ReidWiseman #VictorGlover #ChristinaKoch #JeremyHansen #USSJohnPMurtha #HSC23 #RescueSwimmer #NavyRescueSwimmer #AviationRescueSwimmer #CalmInTheChaos #NavyRecovery #NavalAviation #USNavy #NavyVeteran #MilitaryVeteran #SoOthersMayLive #SearchAndRescue #SAR #MilitaryPodcast #VeteranStories #ResiliencePodcast #LeadershipUnderFire #MentalToughness #ServiceAndSacrifice #BrianDickinson #VeteranPodcast #SpaceRecovery #NASARecovery #PacificOcean #SanDiego

    Artemis II Splashdown, Astronaut Recovery | Aviation Rescue Swimmer Sean Sondergaard | Ep. 59

  8. Apr 20

    Apollo vs Artemis Recovery | Navy Aircrew Compare Splashdown Ops (Mike Longe & Steve Williams)

    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 evolution—splashdown, swimmer deployment, stabilization, and hoist—and compare what’s changed from Apollo 13 recovery operations to modern Artemis procedures. No theory. No commentary. Just operators. Topics covered: Apollo 13 recovery operations (Navy helicopter aircrew)Artemis recovery procedures and modern systemsRescue swimmer role vs legacy aircrew operationsSplashdown timeline and critical first minutesHoist operations in open ocean conditionsWhat’s actually harder now vs thenIf you’re interested in NASA recovery operations, helicopter rescue, or real-world decision-making under pressure, this is the breakdown. #Apollo13 #Artemis #NASA #RescueSwimmer #HelicopterRescue #SearchAndRescue #NavalAviation #SpaceRecovery #MilitaryOperations #Leadership

    Apollo vs Artemis Recovery | Navy Aircrew Compare Splashdown Ops (Mike Longe & Steve Williams)
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About

Calm in the Chaos shares real rescue stories from the U.S. Navy’s Aviation Rescue Swimmers. Hosted by Brian Dickinson—bestselling author, former Navy Rescue Swimmer, and Everest solo summiteer. Ranked in the top 10% of podcasts worldwide, the show digs into the grit, mindset, and faith it takes to run toward the chaos so others may live. Support the mission at briandickinson.net. Not affiliated with the U.S. Navy or DoD.

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