Ep 44 The Human Factor with Mike Musengo

The Interrupted Podcast

Have you ever made a mistake and excused the behavior by saying, “Well, I’m only human!” There is so much truth in that statement the only problem is we often do not take the time to unpack what it means to be human. My guest today is Mike Musengo. Mike is a Force Science Institute instructor and prior law enforcement SWAT Team leader. He has walked through numerous critical incidents and has had to face how human factors play into how we respond to adversity and how we heal from difficult circumstances. We cover the topics of human performance, biomechanics, learning, acquisition of new skills, attention, inattentional blindness, human errors, and human sensory systems.

A recently retired Police Training Commander and Director of a mid-sized Regional Police Academy in upstate NY, Sergeant Mike Musengo has studied and implemented non-traditional and empirically supported methods of training which optimizes long term learning, retention and skill transfer into the LEO training experience. These methods coupled with his experience as an instructor in human performance factors has helped him develop training curriculum for not only the officer on the street but the trainers who are responsible for them.

Mike’s innovative application of scientifically supported methods of training have gained the attention, praise and application from top trainers in the profession. His focus is on how we can help each other become more competent instructors, coaches and leaders within our industry. “Our people, our vocation demand nothing short of highly skilled Professional Instructors.”

Mike has also successfully completed the Certification in Force Analysis course and is a graduate of the Advanced Force Science Specialist Course. Mike is also known for his work with the Force Science Institute in many capacities including Instructor in these highly esteemed courses across the US. Mike is also a nationally recognized IADLEST Certified Instructor and considered an expert in several domains within the Law Enforcement profession.

Resources Mentioned on the Show:

Dr. Robert and Elizabeth Bjork on memory, skill retention and transfer (mounds of research on the web)

Dr. Todd Conklin (5 Principles of Human Performance, Better Questions), James Reason (Human Error), Sydney Dekker (The field guide to human error investigations) and Erik Hollnagel (The ETTO Principle) on Human Error

Dr. Robert Nideffer on Attention Control Theory (Quadrant)

Dr. Timothy Lee: Motor Learning and Performance

Dr. Jordan B. Peterson: 12 Rules for Life, Beyond Order, Maps of Meaning

Steven Pressfield: The War of Art, Do The Work and Turning Pro and The Warrior Ethos (Required early recruit Academy Reading)
Force Science Institute https://www.forcescience.org/

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