Susan is the President/Founder of Under the Shield, Inc. and is a leading subject matter expert in First Responder Stress and Post Traumatic Stress Injury. She has been an instructor at the FBI Academy Quantico VA, US Marine Corps 3rd Battalion 23 Marines Lima Company, US Air Force Europe, consulting clinician NYPD post 9/11, NTOA and NTOA Crisis Negotiators Conference, Int’l Narcotics/Interdiction Officer’s Assn, the Int’l Assn of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors, many field offices of the FBI, and LECC’s for US Attorney’s offices. She provides proactive, resiliency-based training for first responders and their families and takes a unique approach to the issues of suicide, relationship issues and Post Traumatic Stress, providing solutions to issues such as vitamin deficiencies, adrenal fatigue, sleep deprivation and other various reactions to the lifestyles. Through her non-profit, Under the Shield, Inc., she has created the only Stress Coach Certification in the United States specifically for law enforcement, first responders, military, and their families. Susan started the podcast Under the Shield presents “Fight in Progress” in August of 2020 and can be found on Spotify, Apple podcast and SoundCloud. Susan holds a M.S. in Counseling and Human Development from Troy University and is a Board-Certified Expert in Traumatic Stress as well as a Fellow with the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. She resides in Phoenix Arizona.
PRESIDENT/FOUNDER – SUSAN LEWIS SIMONS
TOM HAUBOLD
Tom Haubold is a veteran who spent 10 years in the Air Force Military Police and was deployed to operation Desert Shield / Desert Storm. Tom is a retired sergeant from the Tempe Police Department with 27 years of law enforcement experience. Tom has extensive training and experience in the area of fatal crash reconstruction and spent over 22 years assigned as a police motorcycle officer. Tom has been an adjunct instructor with the Institute of Police Technology and Management since 2013. In 1998 Tom was one of the founding members of the Tempe Police Department Peer Support team. In 2000, Tom was involved in a serious injury collision on his police motorcycle. He sustained a traumatic brain injury, numerous physical injuries, and had no short-term memory for over four months. He is passionate about physiological and psychological mental wellness for first responders. Tom became a stress coach for Under the Shield in 2021 and is the cohost for our podcast, Under the Shield Presents Fight in Progress.
SCOTT A. SLOSS
Scott was born in Oil City, PA. He enlisted into the Army in October 2018 and attended One Station Unit Training (OSUT) at Fort Benning, Georgia to serve as an Infantry mortarman. In 2008, Scott attended Officer Candidate School (OCS) and was commissioned as an engineer officer. He has multiple deployments to Afghanistan and Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Scott retired from the Army in 2018 after 20 years of service.
After retiring from the Army, Scott attended law school so he could continue to serve those who have served. Currently, Scott is an Equal Justice Works Fellow sponsored by Thomson Reuters and Shearman & Sterling and is being hosted by the University of Alabama School of Law. He received his B.A. in General Studies from Columbia College, M.A. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Louisville, and his Juris Doctor from the University of Alabama School of Law. Scott’s fellowship is focused on helping veterans and their families in West Alabama through the Veteran’s Law Project. He is assisting clients in both civil and criminal matters while also raising awareness of the needs of the veteran community.
Scott serves on the Board of Directors for a non-profit organization, Rite of Passage Ranch. He also serves on the Council of Elders at The Word Community Church in Northport, Alabama and is a Certified Stress Coach with Under the Shield.
Scott has been married to his wife Beth for over 12 years and they have three daughters and a son. His family has been living in Tuscaloosa, Alabama for over 7 years and consider themselves Alabamians.
ANDY HUGHES
Andy Hughes is a retired law enforcement executive with over thirty years of experience at the municipal, county and state level. He started his career as a dispatcher with the Houston County, Alabama Sheriff’s Office in 1986. He later served as a Deputy Sheriff and Narcotics Investigator before continuing his career with the Dothan, AL Police Department in 1990. While working with the Dothan Police Department Hughes served in the Patrol, Vice/Intelligence and Special Operations Divisions. He attained the rank of Sergeant in 1994 and served in that capacity as a supervisor until he made the decision to run for Sheriff in 2006. He was elected as the Sheriff of Houston County, Alabama in 2006 and was re-elected in 2010. In 2014 he was appointed as an Assistant Director for Homeland Security/Chief of Tactical Operations for the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. While serving at the state level he commanded the Aviation Unit, EOD Team and the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT). Hughes retired in 2016 and has served as an independent consultant on law enforcement and security matters. Since January 2019 Hughes has served as the Special Projects Manager for FirstGuard LLC, a company that specializes in providing off duty law enforcement officers for various security projects throughout the United States.
WAYNE WILLIS
Wayne Willis was raised in a military family and has lived most of his life as a resident of Weaver, Alabama. Upon Graduation of the Northeast Alabama Law Enforcement Academy located at Jacksonville State University in 1986, Wayne began his law enforcement career with the Anniston Police Department. While at APD, he served in various assignments from School Resource Officer to Homicide Investigator. Wayne was one of the founding members of APD’s first Street Crimes Unit and one of the original nine Officers assigned to APD’s first Special Response Team. In 2012 Wayne retired with the rank of Lieutenant after 27 years’ service, 24 on the Special Response Team. During his career he was named “Alabama Law Enforcement Officer of the year”, four-time “Top Gun” Award recipient, and received numerous commendations for meritorious service.
Wayne and his Wife Rhonda, remain Weaver residents where he is currently serving his fourth term as Mayor.
W. MARSHALL SIMONS
Marshall is a graduate of the University of Alabama in Criminal Justice/Computer Science. He joined the United States Marine Corps in 2009 and deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as an Infantry Rifleman, Basic Urban Survival Training Instructor, & Guardian Angel. After leaving the USMC in 2016 he served as a Detention Deputy with the Tuscaloosa County AL Sheriff’s Office and currently works for Tractor & Equipment Company in Tuscaloosa, AL.
RYAN CLANCY
Ryan comes from 5 generations of law enforcement. His Dad is a Lieutenant with Chicago PD and his Mom is a dispatcher. Ryan has personally experienced losing his sister, a Chicago PD Officer from the effects of this job. His sister Patsy Swank made the decision to end her life due to the daily stressors and trauma she faced on the job.
Ryan is in his Senior year at Ohio state. He is on the Ohio state boxing team and just as he fights in the ring, he is now committed to fighting for officers.
Ryan recognizes in addition to their tactical and physical training, officers need tools for mental wellness and support from their departments and the public. Ryan’s mission is to honor his sister Patsy’s legacy, in part by supporting other officers.