Darin Kinder: Secret Service Agent & 9/11 Survivor Shares His Story of Courage and Resilience
About This Episode
In remembrance of the attacks on September 11th, 2001, we have a special guest on the show, and for the first time in our Combat Story community, we’d like to introduce Darin Kinder — Former Secret Service Agent • 9/11 Survivor.
Darin Kinder brings a rare blend of courage, clarity, and conviction from years spent navigating the world’s most high-pressure moments. As a former Secret Service Agent and survivor of the 9/11 attacks, he uses his story to help individuals and leaders live with bold purpose and unwavering resilience.
Author of Bury Me in a Dirty Suit: Discovering Man’s Valiant Purpose in the Aftermath of 9/11, Darin invites listeners to reframe how they live—seeing everyday work not simply as provision, but as purpose in motion. His own experience, assisting, evacuating, and enduring on that fateful day, embodies the idea that courage is always a choice.
Darin’s story is one of heroism and humility—his actions during the 9/11 attacks earned him the Secret Service Medal of Valor. As the founder of Fierce Comms, based in Dallas, Darin empowers people to rediscover mission and meaning—not just in what they do, but why they do it. Through keynote talks and multi-session seminars, he challenges audiences to “get their suit dirty”—to choose the narrow, courageous path of sacrifice over comfort.
Join us as we sit down with Darin Kinder—a man who invites us to embrace the grit of life, unlock purpose in our work, and live courageously, even when the world tells us we can’t.
Website: https://www.darinkinder.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/darinkinder/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajpasciuti/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelo-pasciuti/ Personal Website & Book Pre-Order (“Darkhorse”): https://www.ajpasciuti.com/ Combat Story Podcast (Part 1 – USMC Sniper & Force Recon in Fallujah):
Combat Story Podcast (Part 2 – Sniper vs Sniper Battle):
Urban Valor Facebook Feature:
DVIDS Video on Infantry Marine Course:
Chapters:
Chapters
- 00:40Introduction
- 00:59Meet Darren Kinder: 9/11 Survivor and Secret Service Agent
- 02:47The Story Behind 'Bury Me In a Dirty Suit'
- 07:17Darren's Path to the Secret Service
- 11:06Inside the Secret Service: Training and Missions
- 24:20First Days in New York: Pre-9/11 Assignments
- 30:58Isolation and Law Enforcement Collaboration
- 31:24AJ Pesi's Story and New Book Announcement
- 32:46Recounting 9/11: Initial Impact and Evacuation
- 35:59Heroic Efforts and Personal Sacrifices
- 45:55Surviving the Collapse and Aftermath
- 56:02Reflecting on the Day and Moving Forward
- 57:06Veterans Help Group Sponsorship
- 58:28Divine Intervention and Final Thoughts
- 01:01:47Evacuation Efforts on 9/11
- 01:02:37Returning Home and Reuniting with Family
- 01:04:32Receiving the Secret Service Medal of Valor
- 01:05:31Serving on the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force
- 01:06:23Protecting President George W. Bush
- 01:07:38Reflecting on 9/11 and Ground Zero
- 01:14:29Traveling the World with the Secret Service
- 01:18:40Memorable Moments and Close Calls
- 01:24:06Leadership Lessons and Personal Reflections
- 01:30:28Final Thoughts and Farewell
