True Blue Conversations - Australian Special Forces SASR Brigadier Ret. Dan Fortune, DSC and Bar Part 2
True Blue Conversations Podcast
Release Date: 07/16/2024
True Blue Conversations - Jon Wynn former Commando Australian Special Forces 2nd Commando Regiment
True Blue Conversations Podcast
On this week’s podcast, I speak with Jon Wynn former Commando Australian Special Forces 2nd Commando Regiment. Jon's journey in health and fitness started when he was young. He was very active in Athletics and was selected to compete in the World U18 titles in Javelin. Shortly after, he received an injury, which finished his athletics career. Jon played rugby league for a few years and enlisted in the Australian Military at age 20 into the Special Forces direct entry program as a Commando. Jon was a fully qualified Commando at age 22 and deployed to Afghanistan in 2009, 2010, 2011,...
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True Blue Conversations - BEYOND THE DROP ZONE: A PARATROOPER'S STORY
True Blue Conversations Podcast
On this week’s podcast, I speak with former UK 3 Para and current UK Firefighter Andy Williams. Despite a turbulent upbringing, Andy enlisted in the Parachute Regiment at just 16. Deployed to the deadly frontlines of Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in 2006, he confronted the brutal realities of warfare, engaging in some of the most intense combat witnessed by the British Army since the Korean War. After his military service, Andrew transitioned into domestic counter-intelligence and spent over a decade as a high-risk security consultant, navigating some of the world’s most dangerous...
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True Blue Conversations - Beyond The Blankets: The Real Stories of Army Logistics
True Blue Conversations Podcast
Today, we’re honored to introduce Warrant Officer Class One David Smith, a distinguished leader with 35 years of combined full-time and part-time service in the Australian Army. David began his journey on July 12, 1989, and has since built a career defined by dedication, expertise, and global impact. Currently stationed at Headquarters Australian Army as part of the Logistics Advisory Team remote in Newcastle, NSW, David provides critical support and advice to unit commanders at the highest levels. David’s career highlights include pivotal roles...
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True Blue Conversations - Former NSW Police Detective Deborah Locke – “Whistleblower”
True Blue Conversations Podcast
True Blue Conversations is inclusive of all stories, this weeks guest had a controversial policing career not by her choosing. Deborah Locke, a former Detective served 12 years with the NSW police. She began in 1984 as a trainee at the Redfern Police Academy and concluded her service in 1996 when she was discharged from the service and deemed “medically unfit” as a result of workplace victimization and harassment as an internal witness, more commonly referred to as a “whistleblower.” During her time in the NSW Police Force, she was stationed at various commands including the notorious...
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True Blue Conversations - AUSTRALIAN SPECIAL FORCES 2ND COMMANDO REGIMENT VETERAN Craig Ball
True Blue Conversations Podcast
Welcome back to season 6 of True Blue Conversations podcast: On this week’s podcast, I spoke with former Australian Special Forces 2nd Commando Regiment veteran Craig Ball. Craig passed Commando selection in 2000 as a reservist and went full-time in 2006. He deployed to Afghanistan as a signaller in the 2nd Commando Regiment in 2010 and 2012. Craig spoke about how veterans struggle with transition after service, returning from a warzone, and migrating back into civilian life. Today, Craig is passionate about helping veterans and working in the mental...
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True Blue Conversations - NSW Rural Fire Service Area Commander Southwestern Chief Superintendent Kelwyn White
True Blue Conversations Podcast
On this weeks podcast, I speak with NSW Rural Fire Service Area Commander Southwestern Chief Superintendent Kelwyn White. Kelwyn commenced her service with the NSW Rural Fire Service in 2002 and, since then has worked across NSW in District, State, and Area-based roles. Kelwyn has been both a salaried officer and a volunteer during her service. Kelwyn's commitment, especially in Community Risk & Community Engagement, is held in the highest regard by her peers and the community. Kelwyn continues to be a proud advocate for engaged communities, playing a significant leadership and...
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True Blue Conversations - Margaret Cunneen SC - “The Boxing Butterfly A Life Of Conviction”
True Blue Conversations Podcast
On this weeks podcast, I spoke with Australian barrister & Public Prosecutor now defence lawyer Margaret Cunneen SC. For over four decades, Margaret Cunneen helped put away some of Australia's worst, as a crown prosecutor and, as her profile grew, so did the media attention, Margaret recalls the headline cases that helped establish her reputation, the controversies she became embroiled in. In 2022 Margaret published her autobiography “ The Boxing Butterfly” A Life Of Conviction is a career chronicle of Margaret Cunneen SC—the boxing butterfly who turned the tables on ICAC, amidst...
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True Blue Conversations - Col. Kim "Killer Chick" Campbell Retired A - 10 Warthog Pilot & Best Selling Author
True Blue Conversations Podcast
On this week’s episode I spoke with Colonel Kim “KC” Campbell DFC “Retd” served in the Air Force for 24 years as a fighter pilot and senior military leader. Kim is a keynote speaker sharing her story about a life changing combat experience while weaving in ideas and lessons about leadership, teamwork, perseverance, and decision making in stressful environments. Kim has flown 1,800 hours in the A-10 Warthog, including more than 100 combat missions protecting troops on the ground in both Iraq and Afghanistan. She is a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Academy and has a Master of...
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True Blue Conversations - Western Australian Police Officer Detective Kristi McVee
True Blue Conversations Podcast
On this week’s episode I spoke with Western Australian Police Officer Kristi McVee, a former detective and specialist child interviewer, she spent years investigating child sexual abuse and prosecuting pedophiles. In this chat, she gets real about the scope of the problem and the challenges you face as a cop chasing down pedophiles. She spent 10 years in the police force before retiring from the force. When she retired, she believed there was a better way to help. By taking a proactive approach, rather than a reactive approach, she knew she could help prevent child abuse and break the cycle...
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True Blue Conversations - Veteran Rod Henderson - Australian 3RAR Paratrooper, Army Aviation Loadmaster & Author
True Blue Conversations Podcast
On this week’s Episode 101: I spoke with Rod Henderson former 3RAR Paratrooper & Army Aviation Loadmaster. Rod spent a total of 22 years within the Australian Defence Force both serving as a paratrooper with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, he was part of Operation Interfet, in 1999 the Australian-led International Force East Timor. Rod then transferred to Army Aviation, working with Black Hawks and Chinooks, including as a door gunner. Rod has deployed on warlike and humanitarian operations to Timor, Pakistan, New Guinea, and Afghanistan....
info_outlinePart 2 of our chat with former Australian SAS soldier and officer, Brigadier Dan
Fortune, DSC and Bar (Retd).
Dan joined the Army at 17 years old as a private soldier and served for over 42
years before discharging for medical reasons. Between 1982-1992, Dan completed
the SAS selection course three times (Yep wait for the story. He served in a Sabre
Squadron for four years as an operator/gunslinger in both HALO / Freefall and Land
Assaulter Counter Terrorist roles. We spoke of Dan’s early years in the regiment and
his growth as a soldier. We spoke of Dan's time at RMC becoming an officer and
then after a short period in 1RAR reattending the entire SAS selection again and
passing the course as a LT. We spoke of his service as a Troop Commander and on
exchange with US SF then his time as an SAS Officer Commanding on multiple
deployments, Bougainville, East Timor, Afghanistan, and Dan’s time as the ADF
Tactical Assault Group for the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
We discussed his more senior appointments including as CO RMC and as CO of the
SOTG (2008) then, when serving in multiple year-long deployments to Afghanistan in
senior ISAF SOF Command role, SOHQ as a Brigadier.
We discussed his transition from the Army to the Commonwealth SES Public
Service appointment in AGSVA and the cost of service to one's family and the
challenges facing contemporary SF veterans and their families. For Dan’s
leadership in action (under fire, outside the wire..) in Command in Afghanistan, he
was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (2008)and Bar.(2014)
Presenter: Adam Blum
Guest: Dan Fortune
Editor: Kyle Watkins
Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway