Crisis that changed the world in 9-11 – The White House: Twenty-Four Hours inside the President’s Bunker
Program Titles
- Counterterrorism
- 24 Hours inside the President’s Bunker
- Lt. Col. Darling witnesses the unprecedented actions that leaders are taking to defend America
- On 9/11 as the airliners crashed into the Twin Towers in New York City; the Pentagon, Lt. Col Bob Darling rushed into the White House underground bunker to help
- Lt. Col. Darling, USMC (Ret.) will give a riveting insiders view of this momentous day
- The White House: A Crisis Leadership Presentation
- Crisis decision making
Lieutenant Colonel Robert J. Darling, (USMC, Ret.), from the U.S. Marine Corps, on counter-terrorism. Lieutenant Colonel Darling witnessed firsthand the enormity of the crisis leadership decisions that were made that day on behalf of all Americans. Bob is the author of “24 Hours Inside the President’s Bunker, 9/11/01: The White House”.
“It immediately became very clear to me and everyone else in that room that our country’s leaders were willing to take American lives in the air to save more American lives on the ground.” Lt. Col. Robert Darling
Lt. Col. Darling’s account of his participation in protecting our nation during the worst attacks in our history is gripping!
“It reminds us that this is not yet part of our history but still a present ongoing threat. We can all learn a great deal from reading it.”
Rudolph W. Giuliani Former Mayor, City of New York
After Lt. Col. Robert J. Darling organized President Bush’s trip to Florida on September. 10th, 2001, he believed the next couple of days would be quiet.
He has no idea that a war is about to begin.
The next day, after terrorists crashed airliners into the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon, Lt. Col. Darling rushes to the president’s underground chamber at the White House.
There, he takes on the task of liaison between the vice president, national security advisor, and the Pentagon.
He works directly with the National Command Authority, and he’s in the room when Vice President Cheney orders two fighter jets to get airborne in order to shoot down United Flight 93.
Throughout the attacks, Lt. Col. Darling witnesses the unprecedented actions that leaders are taking to defend America.
Vice President Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and others make decisions at a lightning pace with little or no deliberation, he’s there to lend his support.
Follow Darling’s story as he becomes a Marine Corps aviator and rises through the ranks to play an incredible role in responding to a crisis that changed the world on 9-11-01: The White House: Twenty-Four Hours inside the President’s Bunker.
The moment South Tower collapsed at 9:59 that morning. It was an unbelievable and tragic sight. I knew that America would never be the same again. In an instant, we became a nation at war and may be at war for generations.
What do you hope people learn from your story?
That our country’s leaders did attempt to protect and defend America that infamous day despite the communication failures that did occur in the presidential chain of command, starting with the National Command Authority and extending down to local military, government, and civilian leaders.
That our enemies are ruthless and persistent but we must remain strong and not tire in this struggle for freedom. That the greatest generation our country has ever seen is the one bearing the weight of the struggle before us right now.
That we must continue to honor and support our military and first responders and that we all play an important role in the security of our nation.
The passengers onboard United Flight 93 were the ultimate heroes for unifying themselves and for stopping the terrorist from succeeding in their mission.
Our enemies are ruthless. We cannot tire until the safety and security of our country and our way of life is preserved for the generations of Americans to come.
In October 2007, Lieutenant Colonel Darling retired from the United States Marine Corps with just over twenty years of active duty service.
He flew attack helicopters in Desert Shield and Desert Storm during the first Gulf War and in Somalia, Africa, in support of Operation Restore Hope.
In June 1998, he was selected to fly as a presidential pilot with Marine Helicopter Squadron One and in October 2000, he was handpicked to work for the White House Military Office, Airlift Operations Department.
It was in that capacity that Lt. Col. Darling supported the President, Vice President and National Security Advisor in the President’s Emergency Operations Center (PEOC) on September 11, 2001.
In May 2002, he attended the Naval Postgraduate School, where he earned his MBA in Financial Management and subsequently served as a Program Manager for the Chief of Naval Operations, supporting the Department of the Navy Flying Hour Program.
As a public speaker on crisis leadership and decision making, Bob has addressed numerous academic, government, and military organizations, including Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and as a guest lecturer on the subject of Crisis Leadership and Counter-terrorism at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
Lt. Col. Darling has addressed numerous academic, government, military, and civic organizations, including Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and on the subject of Crisis Leadership and Counter-terrorism at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
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