Addiction Recovery and the Power of Peer Support

Phil O’Connell, a Boston native, has lived in Washington DC for most of his life. A George Mason University graduate, he joined the Prince George’s County Fire Department in 2011 and is now a Fire Lieutenant at Company 25 in Clinton, MD. Phil also coordinates the peer support team for IAFF Local 1619, providing behavioral health resources to nearly 2,000 members. He is married with two children, a 9-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl.

Mike Wells is a firefighter with Prince George’s County Fire/EMS and 2nd Vice-President of IAFF Local 1619. He’s the Peer Support Director for the Professional Fire Fighters of Maryland and represents the IAFF 4th District Behavioral Health Committee. A master instructor for the IAFF’s Peer Support Program since 2018, Mike teaches and consults globally. He also supports fellow firefighters through the IAFF Disaster Relief Team. Mike holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services from UMASS Amherst.

Gordon Wilson is a Behavioral Health Specialist at the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) in Washington, DC. Gordon is a member of Nashua Fire Fighters Association IAFF Local 789 and served his community as a fire fighter for 29 years. Prior to transitioning to the IAFF HQ, Gordon was the coordinator of the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire Peer Support Program from 2017 – 2022. Gordon has been married for 30 years, has two daughters, and resides in Arlington, VA.

Lauren Kosc is the Behavioral Health Program Clinical Coordinator at the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) in Washington, DC. A Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) since 2008, Lauren has led the growth of IAFF’s behavioral health initiatives since 2017, including Peer Support and Resiliency Training and the IAFF Center of Excellence. In 2024, she was appointed co-chair of the USFA Mental Health and Wellness Taskforce.