Our Team

GREG DAWSON, founder

Greg Dawson was born in Little Rock Arkansas. While attending Arkansas State University, Greg joined the US Air Force and served as a Security Police Officer while on active duty and later served as a crash rescue fire fighter in the reserves.

Greg began his civilian law enforcement carrier in 1998. Throughout his career in Arkansas and South Carolina, Greg has been assigned to the K-9 Division, 4th Judicial Drug Task Force Interdiction Unit, Crisis/Hostage Negotiator, Firearms and Tactics Instructor, and Peer Team Leader. Greg also holds a CPTED Professional Designation (CPD).

As the previous Vice President of the Arkansas Law Enforcement Assistance Program (ARLEAP) and Founder of Responder 1st Assistance Program, Greg has run defusing’s, debriefings, and Post Critical Incident Seminars throughout the United States, as well as Washington DC where he assisted the US Capital Police after Jan 6th, 2021. He is a Certified Peer through the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation Inc. (ICISF), as well as an Instructor for Assisting Individuals in Crisis and Group Crisis Intervention.

Greg brings a wealth of knowledge to Responder 1st Assistance Program with his lengthy Law Enforcement career and experiences. Greg also brings a wealth of knowledge of the at home stressors encompassed with work life balance as well.                         

KASIE DAWSON, LPC, CFRC

Kasie Dawson is a Licensed Professional Counselor who works with first responders and has provided traumatic incident debriefings to numerous public safety personnel in Arkansas and around the country. Kasie is a Certified First Responder Counselor and a Certified Peer Support Leader and assists agencies in building peer programs or restructuring an existing program. Kasie believes that first responders can have a successful work and family life, from hire to retire, with consistent resiliency training and support.

Kasie graduated from John Brown University with a master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2013 and has maintained a private practice specializing in first responders in Fayetteville, AR.

 Kasie brings knowledge from a Law Enforcement family and married to a Law Enforcement Officer, she brings knowledge to the home life as well.