Goal:
The mental health crisis among Air Force Combat Controllers and why suicide rates remain so high.
How peer-to-peer support and community within elite units can literally save lives.
Early warning signs of suicidal ideation in high-performance warriors—and how teammates can intervene.
Lessons learned from combat and law enforcement that apply to resilience and post‑traumatic growth.
Practical strategies for military families to support operators quietly struggling at home.
Why stigma and career fears keep special operations members from seeking help—and how to change that culture.
The mission and impact of the First There Foundation in supporting Combat Controllers and Gold Star families.
Border security through the eyes of a combat‑tested operator: what works on the ground vs. in politics.
The importance of integrating faith, purpose, and service in long‑term recovery for veterans.
U.S. Air Force Combat Controller (Ret). Eric has an extensive law enforcement background which includes force protection and criminal investigations.
Eric Lionheart is a retired U.S. Air Force Combat Controller and the president of the First There Foundation, an organization committed to eradicating suicide among Air Force Combat Controller teammates. Drawing on more than two decades of experience in security operations and management, he has served at the intersection of military, law enforcement, and national security.
During his Air Force career, Eric gained extensive expertise in force protection and criminal investigations, operating in demanding and high‑risk environments. He served on the U.S. Air Force police SWAT team known as the Emergency Services Team (EST), where he participated in critical incident response and high‑stakes tactical missions. His operational background spans work across Texas and the southern United States, giving him firsthand insight into both domestic security challenges and the stresses placed on those who stand on the front lines.
Eric’s experience also includes involvement in border security, where he has worked as a military and civilian border security legislation analyst, translating ground‑truth realities into actionable policy perspectives. He has worked alongside Secret Service agents in San Antonio on protective missions for Air Force One and other high‑value assets, further sharpening his understanding of strategic security, coordination, and threat mitigation.
Today, as president of the First There Foundation, Eric channels his operational and leadership experience into advocacy, prevention, and support for Combat Controllers and their families. He speaks candidly about the hidden costs of service, the culture of silence around mental health in elite units, and the urgent need for peer support and meaningful intervention. Eric’s mission‑driven work combines hard‑earned tactical expertise with a deep commitment to saving the lives of those who have sacrificed so much for their country.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, isolation became a global issue – but especially so for service members in quarantine. With military suicides increasing by 16% throughout 2020, the risks of isolation during quarantine in the military were noteworthy. Those infected while serving overseas, or troops who returned from deployment, were required to first complete a mandated 14-day quarantine before returning to duty or before finally being allowed to head home. These quarantines were made even more challenging by the fact that service members were not only isolated from others in their unit, but also from their loved ones and home.
First There was established to look after our own. We are in a unique position where we can speak and stand up for our brothers, who cannot because of possible Command punishment.
What is being done to our career field for the sake of furthering the woke movement and promotion is degrading, insulting, and extremely dangerous.
To lower training standards and push a woman through who has quit multiple times, will cost the lives of teammates.
We stand with the men of Combat Control who continue to hold the line and exceed the standards.
#combatcontrol #wehaveyour6 #dontlowerstandards #usaf #afsoc#endwokeairforce #holdtheline
Hooman Khalili is an Iranian-born, San Francisco–raised radio personality, filmmaker, and mural artist whose work bridges entertainment, faith, and “mural diplomacy” between the Iranian and Jewish peoples. Over two decades in media and a growing portfolio of high-impact public art, he has built a unique platform that connects Hollywood, Israel, and the global struggle for freedom in Iran.
Dr. Isik Abla’s story reads like a front‑page feature: a young woman raised in a strict Muslim home in Istanbul, trapped in a brutal marriage to an extremist, fleeing to America after a near‑fatal attack—and then transforming into a global broadcaster whose insights on Islam, Sharia, Iran, and religious freedom now inform audiences in more than 200 countries.
Drawing from his own experience on the front lines of persecution, he offers rare, first‑hand insight into how terrorism, corruption, and weak institutions impact ordinary families across Nigeria and West Africa. Franc’s work centers on elevating the voices of victims—especially women and children—while pressing governments, international organizations, and faith communities to confront atrocities with both courage and accountability.
Janice Trey is the national spokesperson for SafeMeet.us, a cutting‑edge encrypted communications platform designed to keep private conversations truly private. Drawing on her experience leading a major international media organization and exposing digital surveillance threats, she explains in clear, practical terms why Americans’ calls, texts, and video meetings remain vulnerable—and how SafeMeet.us closes those back doors.
Drawing on firsthand investigations in Benue, Plateau, Taraba, and Yobe states, he exposes the reality of organized “kill zones” where Christians are being driven from ancestral lands through mass killings, kidnappings, and terror tactics that mirror ISIS in the Middle East. Saul explains how Western governments and media have repeatedly misread this violence—hiding behind terms like “farmer‑herder clashes,” “banditry,” or “climate conflict”—and why that misframing fuels weak policy, ignores victims, and emboldens perpetrators of ethno‑religious cleansing.
Drawing on real stories and current trends, she exposes how social media, peer pressure, and easy access to fake pills are targeting teens and tweens who would never see themselves as “drug users.” In her compelling presentations, Anne lays out what parents don’t know about fentanyl—but must learn now—equipping audiences with practical questions, safety steps, and language they can use today to protect the kids they love.
