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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Presentation Overview:
On September 11, 2001, Lt. Col. Robert J. Darling stood inside the White House top-secret underground bunker complex known as the President’s Emergency Operations Center (PEOC), serving as a military liaison between the Vice President, the National Security Advisor, and the Pentagon. From this rare vantage point, he witnessed the unimaginable attack on America and the minute-by-minute crisis leadership decisions made by our nation’s leaders as they struggled to lead America through its darkest hours—making life-and-death decisions under staggering uncertainty.
What Your Audience Will Gain:
This is not just a history lesson—it’s a blueprint for leadership when the playbook breaks. Robert distills lessons from 9/11 into clear, actionable strategies for modern leaders navigating crisis and disruption.
• Crisis leadership skills: situational awareness, decisiveness, & courage under pressure
• How to align Legal, IT, Operations, and your stakeholders under pressure
• The role of communication as the lifeline of continuity
• Building continuity playbooks that hold under stress
• Cadence of tabletop drills, defined roles, and a shared language
About Robert J. Darling:
Robert retired from the United States Marine Corps in 2007, where he served his nation as an attack helicopter pilot, Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) presidential pilot, and as an Airlift Operations officer in the White House Military Office. He is the author of a top-selling book, 24 Hours Inside the President’s Bunker, 9/11/01: The White House, and brings unmatched real-world insight to both national and international audiences who understand the challenges and responsibility of leadership under pressure.
Perfect For:
• Executive leadership meetings
• Security and operations conferences
• Crisis management / BCP summits
• Government and enterprise offsites
⚠️ With the 25th anniversary of 9/11 approaching, demand for this program will surge — book early to secure your date.
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