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

For ten years, Tommy Maxwell served as a U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer, operating under pressure, saving lives, and learning from some of the best — including the late Master Chief Tony DiCenso, a legend in the SAR community.Now out of the military, Tommy has shifted his mission — from rescuing people to educating and inspiring others through wildlife storytelling. On his popular YouTube channel @Tommys_reptiles, he shares his lifelong passion for reptiles, showing the world that these misunderstood creatures deserve respect, not fear.In this episode of Calm in the Chaos, we talk about:What it’s really like to serve a decade as a Navy Rescue SwimmerThe mentorship and legacy of Master Chief Tony DiCensoTransitioning from the military to civilian life and creative purposeTommy’s mission to humanize reptiles and share wildlife filmmaking adventures👉 Subscribe, share, and review — it helps more veterans, first responders, and families find hope through these stories.CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST Episode 46So 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 checkout100% of proceeds go to support the podcast!#TommyMaxwell #RescueSwimmer #NavyRescueSwimmer #AviationRescueSwimmer #TonyDiCenso #CalmInTheChaosPodcast #BrianDickinson #SoOthersMayLive #NavySAR #Reptiles #WildlifeFilmmaking #VeteranStories #AnimalEducation #NavyVeteran #RescueSwimmerStories #SARCommunity #HumanizingReptiles #MilitaryToCivilian #NavyLifeFor more content, subscribe to our channel 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

When Hurricane Katrina unleashed chaos across the Gulf Coast, Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer Tim Hawkins was sent into the storm. In the middle of the devastation, he faced an unthinkable decision — save a life or risk losing his.This episode of Calm in the Chaos dives into the real rescue missions of Hurricane Katrina, told by one of the men who lived it. Tim Hawkins shares what it meant to operate in impossible conditions — flooded cities, downed power lines, exhausted crews, and endless rescues. His split-second decision in that moment would define not just his mission, but his mindset for the rest of his life.In this episode:Inside the chaos of Katrina rescue operationsThe life-or-limb moment that tested Tim’s training and mindsetLessons in composure, courage, and compassion under pressureThe brotherhood of the Aviation Rescue Swimmer community👉 Subscribe, share, and review — it helps more veterans, first responders, and families find hope through these stories.CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST Episode 45So 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 checkout100% of proceeds go to support the podcast!#TimHawkins #RescueSwimmer #NavyRescueSwimmer #AviationRescueSwimmer #HurricaneKatrina #CalmInTheChaosPodcast #BrianDickinson #SoOthersMayLive #SearchAndRescue #MilitaryStories #NavyLife #HeroicRescue #VeteranStories #NavyAviation #SAR #RealHeroes #SurvivalStories #NavyBrotherhoodFor more content, subscribe to our channel 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

He started as a non-designated airman aboard a Navy ship — no rating, no clear path forward. But through discipline, faith, and relentless drive, Laurquis earned his wings as an Aviation Rescue Swimmer, mastering one of the Navy’s toughest training pipelines. His journey didn’t stop there — he rose again, becoming a Surface Warfare Officer (SWO), leading sailors on the high seas.In this episode, we dive into:What life is like for a non-rated sailor trying to find directionThe brutal reality and brotherhood of Rescue Swimmer SchoolLeadership lessons that carried him into the Surface Warfare communityThe mindset that separates those who quit from those who rise👉 Subscribe, share, and review — it helps more veterans, first responders, and families find hope through these stories.CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST Episode 44So 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 checkout100% of proceeds go to support the podcast!#LaurquisRockSowell #RescueSwimmer #NavyRescueSwimmer #AviationRescueSwimmer #NavySWO #SurfaceWarfareOfficer #CalmInTheChaosPodcast #BrianDickinson #NavyMotivation #MilitaryLeadership #RescueSwimmerStories #NavyLife #SoOthersMayLive #VeteranStories #USNavy #NavyJourneyFor more content, subscribe to our channel 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

In this powerful episode of Calm in the Chaos, I sit down with Jay Shropshire, retired Senior Chief, Aviation Rescue Swimmer — a brother I went through training with. Jay opens up about the catastrophic Navy helicopter crash in Kuwait that everyone miraculously survived, and the invisible battles that followed after 23 years of dedication to serving our country.We talk about survival, purpose, and the quiet struggle of transitioning from military life to civilian reality. It’s one of the heaviest and most honest episodes yet — a reminder that even the strongest warriors carry unseen scars.👉 Subscribe, share, and review — it helps more veterans, first responders, and families find hope through these stories.CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST Episode 42So 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 checkout100% of proceeds go to support the podcast!#CalmInTheChaosPodcast #AviationRescueSwimmer #RescueSwimmer #JayShropshire #BrianDickinson #NavyVeteran  #SoOthersMayLive #HelicopterCrashSurvivor #MilitaryTransition #VeteranMentalHealth #Resilience #Brotherhood #FaithThroughAdversity #LeadershipUnderPressure #MilitaryPodcast #VeteranStoriesFor more content, subscribe to our channel 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

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 43So 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 checkout100% of proceeds go to support the podcast!#NavyRescueSwimmer #USNavy #HelicopterRescue #CombatRescue #MilitaryPodcast #NavalAviation #CarrierLife #F18 #RescueSwimmer #MilitaryLife #VeteranStories #SearchAndRescue #AviationPodcast #MilitaryHistory