Today we are joined by LT Evan Bergman with the United States Air Force. Evan is a Tactical Air Control Party Specialist, or TACP, at the 15th Air Support Operations Squadron in Savannah Georgia. He spent most of his youth in Annapolis Maryland before attending the Virginia Military Institute where he majored in Psychology. After graduating in 2021 Evan attended TOPT, the AF Special Warfare Officer selection course for the TACP career field. In 2022 Evan began the arduous TACP pipeline where he helped lead his teams through nearly two years of intense physical and mental training.

Paul Conway is a third-generation firefighter who served with the Milwaukee Fire Department for 31 years and retired as the Chief of Operations in 2012. He also served with the New Berlin Volunteer Fire Department for seventeen years. Paul used his fire service experience and passion to start Conway Shield. Nearly 40 years later, the Conway Shield business he founded strives to be a leading source of protective gear, safety equipment, and educational resources for first responders in the U.S. Paul continues to actively serve in his community and serves as both a chief sponsor and senior advisor for Leadership Under Fire.

The filing period for the FDNY Firefighter Open Competitive exam #4044 opened on Monday, June 24, 2024. The last filing period was in 2017. The path to joining the Greatest Job on Earth is competitive and tedious – it requires both perseverance and patience. That is why the Leadership Under Fire Team and Paddy Brown Program hosted an information session to educate and encourage those military service members and veterans desiring to join the FDNY as well as those who are considering military service prior to joining the FDNY. The conversation featured the perspectives of several current FDNY members whose path to the FDNY was shaped by their military service. The conversation also provided insight into the FDNY’s hiring process, employment requirements, the professional benefits of military service, and commentary on military veterans who have served our Nation and FDNY with distinction.

Of note: The Notice of Examination for Exam #4044 was released after the conversation was recorded. Subsequently, those who are interested in joining the FDNY are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the NOE prior to filing for the exam.