Tom Quinn is a former Director of the Federal Air Marshals Service and a retired Secret Service agent. In between he had his own international protective security and training business. Quinn and Andy discuss the monumental task of ramping up the Air Marshals Service after 9/11 and the important role it still plays today in air travel. They also talk about the Secret Service. His dad encouraged him to take that path and his son makes him proud today in his leadership role with them. Quinn is clear about what skills and training are essential for protective services to be effective. By way of example, he describes what Secret Service did during the attempted assassination of President Reagan that literally saved the President’s life. Andy and Quinn remember their old pal Pete Wysocki. Quinn used to ride motorcycles with him. There’s a story or two about Wysocki’s competitive nature (he was a linebacker after all for six years with the Washington Redskins). This interview would be great for anyone interested in entering federal law enforcement, or someone who is a history buff. Enjoy!

The entire transcript for this podcast episode can be found on our website here:

https://ourtowndc.com/tom-quinn-air-marshals/ A special thanks to Our Town sponsors GEICO, as well as Attorney Mike Collins, Tony & Joe's Seafood Restaurant and Nicks Riverside Grill, and Living Health Integrative Medicine Regenerative Medicine.

John Matthews, WMAL News Director, is a walking encyclopedia on all things WMAL. He started working at WMAL as an intern in the programming department. After graduating from Syracuse, he worked for two years at the front desk as a receptionist assisting where he could with programs such as Ken Beatrice’s “Sports Call”. John became a news assistant after a position miraculously opened up, then became a reporter, news editor, morning drive news reporter, managing editor and finally news director. He’s done it all over the last 37 years. He has a lot of stories, and he and Andy revisit the glory days, when Harden and Weaver were on in the AM, Tom Gauger mid-mornings,Trumbull and Core in the afternoon and Bill Mayhugh overnight. You’ll remember the names: Karen Leggett, Milagros Ardin, Len Deibert, Larry Krebs and many others. It’s a true walk down memory lane if you are a WMAL fan. If you’re not you’ll learn what a wonderful place it has been to have a career. Enjoy! The entire transcript for this podcast episode can be found on our website here:

https://ourtowndc.com/john-matthews-wmal-news/ A special thanks to Our Town sponsors GEICO, as well as Attorney Mike Collins, Tony & Joe's Seafood Restaurant and Nicks Riverside Grill, and Living Health Integrative Medicine Regenerative Medicine.

Richard Wiley, Chairman Emeritus of Wiley Rein LLP, is a former General Counsel, Commissioner and Chairman of the FCC. He has been involved in the overhaul of broadcast regulations through both Republican and Democrat administrations. He left government and went into private practice, but was called back to Chair the FCC’s Advisory Committee to keep the United States up with Japan and Western Europe on Advanced Television Service. This committee was to go on to develop digital HDTV standards. Wiley also talks about his private law practice experience (not without its challenges), his time spent at The Pentagon in JAG Corps, and his love for baseball. It’s all here. Enjoy! The entire transcript for this podcast episode can be found on our website here:

https://ourtowndc.com/richard-wiley-chairman/ A special thanks to Our Town sponsors GEICO, as well as Attorney Mike Collins, Tony & Joe's Seafood Restaurant and Nicks Riverside Grill, and Living Health Integrative Medicine Regenerative Medicine.

Eshauna Smith, CEO of Urban Alliance, leads her organization to provide senior high school students with internship opportunities and experiences they would not otherwise have. But, before any student can take advantage of an internship, they must be ready, and to ensure that the students are, Urban Alliance has them participate in boot camp skills training. Eshauna emphasizes that Urban Alliance participants are seniors in high school when they commit to the program. She is confident that it is the rigor of completing 600 work hours after school combined with meeting the obligations that come with senior year that gives these students the ability to compete in the workplace. A graduate of UC Berkeley, Eshauna takes Berkeley’s social justice influence seriously. She came to DC because she considers it a unique and special place where she can work in a career that allows her to give back. Take a listen to Andy and Eshauna talk about the impact Amazon will have on DC metro and hopefully Urban Alliance. Enjoy!

The entire transcript for this podcast episode can be found on our website here:

https://ourtowndc.com/eshauna-smith-urban-alliance/

A special thanks to Our Town sponsors GEICO, as well as Attorney Mike Collins, Tony & Joe's Seafood Restaurant and Nicks Riverside Grill, and Living Health Integrative Medicine Regenerative Medicine.

Al Koken, Capitals Reporter and Host, NBC Sports Washington, came to DC from St. Louis where he grew up a fan of baseball and football and found a new love – hockey. By chance, he started writing for American University’s student paper, The Eagle. His interest in journalism increased after he received positive feedback on a story he wrote about jumping out of a plane. He credits that with as the onset of his career. Koken has more than a few good stories to tell. There’s the Glenn Brenner story and the University City “Back to the Future” story. There’s also a story about St. Louis Cardinal Mel Gray’s phantom catch during a game against Washington that kept Washington from going to the playoffs that year. Then there’s a story he tells about John Thompson’s interview with the Greaseman, and one he tells about he became aware of the magic of radio. Koken is a great storyteller. He and Andy talk about legendary sportscasters and sports personalities. They also chat about broadcasting and the what it was like working for Home Team Sports. Koken’s energy throughout this interview is infectious. Take a listen and enjoy! The entire transcript for this podcast episode can be found on our website here:

https://ourtowndc.com/al-koken-capitals-reporter/ A special thanks to Our Town sponsors GEICO, as well as Attorney Mike Collins, Tony & Joe's Seafood Restaurant and Nicks Riverside Grill, and Living Health Integrative Medicine Regenerative Medicine.

Bob Milkovich, CEO of Rand* Construction, is a former UMD Terrapins quarterback and successful business executive. He played for UMD under Coach Claiborne who he credits for turning UMD’s football program around. Milkovich and Andy chat about some of the well-known players and coaches that emerged from the program back in the day. Milkovich has enjoyed working for some of the top businesses in Washington DC, starting with WMAL where he learned from the best – Ockershausen, Renaud, Fears, and Pete Wysocki. He worked for the Oliver T. Carr Company, Goldman Sachs and the First Potomac Realty Trust. All top companies in business. His current position as CEO of Rand* Construction continues the trend. Milkovich’s experience gives him a unique perspective on the growth of Our Town. Listen in to hear what he shares with host Andy Ockershausen. The entire transcript for this podcast episode can be found on our website here:

https://ourtowndc.com/bob-milkovich-president-rand/ A special thanks to Our Town sponsors GEICO, as well as Attorney Mike Collins, Tony & Joe's Seafood Restaurant and Nicks Riverside Grill, and Living Health Integrative Medicine Regenerative Medicine.

Patrick Burke served in MPDC for 27 years and attained the rank of Assistant Chief in the Strategic Services Bureau. In 2016, he was appointed as US Marshall under the Obama Administration, resigning that post in 2017 to become the Executive Director for Washington DC Police Foundation. During his career he has received numerous awards, and has completed a Master’s Degree at Johns Hopkins, a Certificate Program at George Washington University, and spent two years in postgraduate work at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. He has worked under 8 MPDC Police Chiefs, and 6 Mayors. He has his favorites. Listen in to find out who they are, and why. You’ll also hear Burke’s perspective on how to address rising crime in Our Town, and about all the changes he’s seen take place over the past 30 years. This is a well-paced interesting interview. Enjoy! The entire transcript for this podcast episode can be found on our website here:

https://ourtowndc.com/patrick-burke-dc-police/

A special thanks to Our Town sponsors GEICO, as well as Attorney Mike Collins, Tony & Joe's Seafood Restaurant and Nicks Riverside Grill, and Living Health Integrative Medicine Regenerative Medicine.

Bobby Goldwater is an innovative sports executive and consultant. What exactly has he done and what does he do? Here’s a hint: Madison Square Garden, Staples Center and Nationals Park all have his influence in common. If you listen, you’ll hear details about Bobby’s work, his thought process after taking on a new project and how he achieves what he sets out to do. His love for a challenge clearly impacts his success. One motivating factor for coming to DC to figure out how to get a major league baseball team back in town? Simply that he thought it would be cool if he were “the one to figure it out”. The entire transcript for this podcast episode can be found on our website here:

https://ourtowndc.com/bobby-goldwater-innovative/ A special thanks to Our Town sponsors GEICO, as well as Attorney Mike Collins, Tony & Joe's Seafood Restaurant and Nicks Riverside Grill, and Living Health Integrative Medicine Regenerative Medicine.

Sue and Joe Palka are Andy O’s guests in this new interview. Sue Palka, Chief Meterologist at Fox 5 DC, has just celebrated 33 years with Fox 5. Joe Palka, Actor and Playwright, is in radio at Voice of America, has been tapped for a Conor McPherson play opening next year at Quotidian Theatre in Bethesda, MD, and has written a number of successful and well-received plays. They are also husband and wife, and good at communicating which does not go unnoticed by the host. Sue talks about a big secret she had when first auditioning for the weather job, and Joe reveals a major motion picture release in which he has a part. This interview is full of Our Town broadcast history, and personal stories in the business that will delight you and possibly push some of your own buttons. What’s interesting is the contrast in careers. Hers steady as she goes, and his full of zigs and zags; but, both highly successful! Take a listen. The entire transcript for this podcast episode can be found on our website here:

https://ourtowndc.com/sue-palka-joe-palka/

Dana Lawhorne is the Sheriff for the City of Alexandria, VA. Not only does he have a big job in Our Town but he grew up listening to WMAL AM630, both of which enrich his interview. Andy O and Lawhorne recall WMAL personalities of yesterday. Harden and Weaver, Tom Gauger, Larry Krebs and others were seemingly part of the Lawhorne family. Host Andy O and Lawhorne also discuss his 40-year career with the City of Alexandria. Dana shares his perspective on coming up in the police department and what it’s like now to be Sheriff. His department is in charge of the city’s detention center and courthouse, as well as pre-trial prisoners at the Federal Penitentiary in Alexandria, and some of those prisoners’ have high-name recognition. Lawhorne has stories too. He was a police officer involved in the Woodrow Wilson Bridge jumper incident, a hostage situation at a pawn shop, and as Sheriff in the 2017 Congressional shooting at Simpson Park. And, that’s not all! Take a listen to see what else Andy and Dana have packed into this 30-minute interview! It may spark a memory or two of your own. The entire transcript for this podcast episode can be found on our website here:

https://ourtowndc.com/dana-lawhorne-sheriff-alexandria/ A special thanks to Our Town sponsors GEICO, as well as Attorney Mike Collins, Tony & Joe's Seafood Restaurant and Nicks Riverside Grill, and Living Health Integrative Medicine Regenerative Medicine.