Robert J. Darling

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Inside the President’s Bunker

On the morning of September 11, 2001, Marine Corps officer Robert J. Darling was summoned to the Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC) beneath the White House to serve as a liaison among the Vice President, the National Security Advisor, and the Pentagon—coordinating real-time decisions as the attacks unfolded. Few speakers can take audiences inside the room where life-or-death choices were made at that speed and scale.

Elite Service and Experience

Robert J. Darling’s path to that moment spans more than two decades of elite service. He flew Cobra attack helicopters in Desert Shield/Desert Storm and in Somalia, later becoming a presidential pilot with Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) and serving within the White House Military Office (Airlift Operations). He retired in 2007 after over 20 years of active-duty service.

Author and Educator

Robert J. Darling is the author of 24 Hours Inside the President’s Bunker: 9/11/01: The White House, a gripping first-person account that has become a cornerstone for teams studying decision-making, communication, and interagency coordination. He has delivered programs for senior audiences at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and the FBI National Academy at Quantico, Virginia.

Today’s Mission

As President & CEO of Flash Emergency Management, Robert J. Darling now travels globally to train organizations and business leaders on how to communicate with clarity under pressure, lead through chaos, and build business continuity systems that hold under extreme conditions.

With the 25th anniversary of 9/11 approaching, his program moves beyond commemoration to equip leaders with the command intent, cross-functional communication, and operational continuity needed to perform under pressure.

Program Promise

Inside the President’s Bunker: A Crisis Leadership and Decision-Making Presentation transforms a rare, inside-the-PEOC vantage point into practical, repeatable frameworks your teams can use on Monday morning.

Contact us for Robert J. Darling’s fees and availability.