Leadership

Pete Davekos has been involved with Head of the Charles Regatta Emergency Services for more than 15 years and currently serves as Co-Chair of the Race Operations Committee. Over that time, he has supported the Regatta both in the field and through emergency services planning and operational leadership. His experience includes helping coordinate medical, safety, communications, and emergency response resources for one of the world’s largest rowing events. This long-standing involvement has provided Peter with a unique understanding of the Regatta’s emergency services operations and the challenges of managing safety, resources, and interagency coordination at a large-scale event.

Professionally, Pete is a Flight Paramedic and emergency services professional with nearly 20 years of experience. He also serves as Director of Field Operations for a safety consulting firm focused on event safety, emergency planning, and operational preparedness. His experience includes supporting large-scale events and public gatherings, as well as working across emergency medical services, public safety, and emergency management. Pete has completed specialized training in sports and special event management through the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), complementing his operational experience with formal training in event safety, risk management, and integrated public safety operations.

Jessie has been volunteering with the regatta as a part of the Emergency Services committee since 2015, starting as a lifeguard before switching to serve as co-chair of the Emergency Services Race Operations Committee in 2023. Now, they recruit and manage all lifeguard volunteers for the regatta. Jessie happily and enthusiastically returns to volunteer every year because of the other volunteers, the joy surrounding the regatta, and the beautiful sunrises and sunsets from the MIT boathouse. 

Outside the regatta, Jessie is a high school math teacher and spends their free time swimming, singing, knitting, and dancing.

Charles Adi Uchendu brings a calm, community-focused approach to everything he does, both on and off the Charles River. His journey into emergency management first began through volunteer work with nonprofits like Team Rubicon and the American Red Cross. That early passion for helping others quickly grew into a hands-on career in public safety, where Charles served on the front lines as an EMT and a wildland firefighter—roles that taught him how to stay cool, collected, and kind under pressure. Today, he channels that extensive expertise into running his own emergency management consulting company. In his free time Charles continues to volunteer, working to support those that need help when they need it most.

At the Head of the Charles Regatta, Charles puts those safety and coordination skills to perfect use as an Emergency Services committee Co-Chair. Working closely alongside fellow Co-Chair Jessie Feng, Charles is dedicated to supporting the incredible team of lifeguards who monitor the notoriously challenging three-mile river course. Together, Charles and Jessie ensure that the lifeguards have the resources, coordination, and backing they need to keep thousands of rowers and spectators safe throughout the bustling, action-packed race weekend. Whether he is reviewing safety protocols or just sharing a warm smile with volunteers on the docks, Charles is dedicated to making the world's largest three-day rowing event a safe and spectacular experience for everyone.

Jackson O'Brien is in his eighth year with the Head Of The Charles Regatta and his third year on the Emergency Services Race Operations Committee, where he serves as one of five co-chairs. He began as a lifeguard in his first year and spent the following four years on the bike team, responding to calls along the course before moving into a planning and leadership role. That progression has given him a first-hand understanding of how the Regatta's emergency services operation works at every level, from patient care in the field to the coordination of medical, safety, and equipment resources across first aid stations, walking teams, bike teams, and safety launches.

Professionally, Jackson is a licensed paramedic and a certified instructor trainer in a wide range of American Red Cross programs. His background includes work as an EMS educator, and he brings that instructional experience to the Product Development team at the American Red Cross, where he helps design training curricula delivered to instructors and responders nationwide. He also serves as Aquatics Training Manager for the South Shore YMCA, where he oversees training and emergency response readiness for roughly 200 lifeguards across the association. Outside of aquatics, he is entering his fourth season as a ski patroller, continuing a pattern of field response work that runs alongside his training and curriculum roles. That mix of clinical, instructional, and operational experience shapes how he approaches training, preparedness, and resource planning for the Regatta.