Letters from Leaders: Nick DeFelice - Leadership Southern Maryland

Letters From Leaders

An LSM Initiative to Inspire and Empower

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
– Maya Angelou

Think of the leaders in your life. They left indelible imprints on you, on the way you see the world, on what you choose to engage with as you go forward.

In Letters from Leaders, we will hear from a cross-section of Southern Maryland leaders intimately familiar with our region and our people. We will be touched by stories from their lives and facets of their experiences they carry with them along their journey. As we explore topics through their eyes and through their hearts, feel the impact of their words, their compassion, and their courage. Perhaps they, too, will leave their imprint on you.

– Matt Scassero, LMd ’07, LSM Leadership Council

Leading from Where You Are: Cpl. Nicholas DeFelice, LSM ’23

“Stop dreaming and start doing.”

– Cpl. Nicholas DeFelice, LSM ’23, quoting LSM classmate Kevin Switick

“Stop dreaming and start doing.” These six words, shared by a classmate during his Leadership Southern Maryland journey, became a rallying cry for Cpl. Nicholas DeFelice — and now, he invites us to embrace them too. In his thoughtful reflection, DeFelice shows us what can happen when a leader steps beyond familiar roles and dares to grow alongside colleagues from every corner of the community. With humility and courage, he reminds us that true leadership begins not in titles or traditions but in vulnerability, open-mindedness, and meaningful action. His letter challenges us to turn reflection into momentum and vision into reality — in our workplaces, our homes, and our communities.

Cpl. Nicholas DeFelice, LSM ’23

Cpl. Nicholas “Nick” DeFelice is a dedicated public servant and lifelong learner who has served with the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office since 2007. As a first-line supervisor on the Special Operations/SWAT team, DeFelice combines deep tactical expertise with a passion for mentorship and community safety. He has been recognized locally and nationally for his valor, life-saving actions, and commitment to professional excellence — including being named National Law Enforcement Officer of the Year in 2024 by the American Legion.

Whether training fellow officers, advocating for employee equity, or engaging with the community, DeFelice leads with courage, humility, and a steadfast belief in service above self.

“Stop Dreaming and Start Doing” is a slogan and mindset that my Leadership of Southern Maryland (LSM) Classmate Kevin Switick shared with our class during the final session of the LSM 2023 Executive Program, which will go down as “the most courageous class ever,” as coined by our class speaker, Rodney Flowers.

Kevin used this simple slogan as a catapult for his own professional and personal ventures, and it served as a powerful conclusion for me and many of our classmates after almost one year of examining the inner workings of Southern Maryland and all that it has to offer.

“Stop Dreaming and Start Doing” is a mantra that I have since embraced, using the lessons from LSM to become a better leader, colleague, spouse, and father. The LSM experience and my classmates have had a lasting impression on how I face issues big and small. Engaging with individuals like corporate executives, chief financial officers, educators, and the underserved granted me a perspective that transcends what could ever be captured in traditional leadership books or podcasts.

As one of the few participants not hailing from a Navy test pilot background or a contractor at Pax River, I felt deeply honored to serve as the sole law enforcement officer nominated by my colleagues—some of whom are proud alumni of LSM.

Following our initial LSM retreat, it was evident that I had received a gift from my co-workers, not just a nomination. The retreat was a reminder that my 17 years in law enforcement as a criminal investigator, special operations team member, and past FOP president might have unintentionally clouded my worldview. It had limited my creativity and narrowed my problem-solving lens.

In any line of work, it is easy to get lost in recycling ideas, deadlines, merely completing the task in front of you, and molding oneself into what others define as a leader. I came into the program hoping my perspective would change the views of my classmates unaware that the open discussions and shared vulnerabilities of others would profoundly alter my understanding of what true leadership and success mean.

Throughout the LSM experience, I was surrounded by leaders from Southern Maryland who allowed themselves to set aside preconceived notions, respectfully asked difficult questions, and who sought to challenge the status quo. Our informational sessions allowed us to take a close look at how intertwined and reliant we are on each other.

While my experiences may not seem revolutionary, a glance at our evening news cycles reveals the many issues that routinely divide our communities. Topics like housing, education, energy, and public safety cannot be addressed in isolation; they demand candid conversations about funding and future priorities.

A straightforward interpretation of “Stop Dreaming and Start Doing” can mean pursuing endeavors of all sizes. Whether it’s launching a business, embarking on that long-desired trip, or finally tackling that cluttered corner in the garage, the motto encourages us to take meaningful action.

My LSM experience provided the invaluable opportunity to recalibrate my approach, enabling me to tackle problems and tasks from a variety of angles and with thought-partners I didn’t even know I had. I encourage every aspiring leader out there to be fearless in your pursuit of collaboration and understanding so you too, can ‘start doing’ those things that bring your personal life, your professional life, and our community economic and social prosperity.

Cpl. Nicholas DeFelice, LSM 23
Detective/Deputy Sheriff, Special Operations Team
Calvert County Sheriffs Office

About Cpl. Nicholas DeFelice, LSM ’23

Nick DeFelice graduated from Greensboro College in Greensboro, North Carolina, with a B.A. in history. He began his career in law enforcement as a deputy sheriff with the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office in 2007. He spent eight years as an investigator and is currently a first-line supervisor on the full-time special operations team/SWAT.

DeFelice wears many hats within the Sheriff’s Office, including the roles of agency taser coordinator, crisis management team negotiator, defensive tactics and firearms instructor, and crisis intervention team coordinator. He has a passion for instructing his fellow officers as a Force Science Institute graduate, prioritizing the implementation of reality-based training in law enforcement. In addition to instructing officers, he also developed and instructs violent critical incident response (active shooter) training to public and private institutions and was recognized by the Maryland Police Corrections Training Commission as Instructor of the Year in 2023.

DeFelice has been recognized as Detective of the Year three times each by both the Calvert County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office. He served four years as president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 109, successfully advocating with a team for an across-the-board market adjustment for all Calvert County Government employees. DeFelice has been recognized twice by the Maryland Chiefs of Police and Sheriff’s Association for his contribution to professionalism and valor for life saving during a hostage rescue.

In 2024, DeFelice received the distinguished honor of being named the National Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by the American Legion.

About Matt Scassero, LMd ‘07

Matt Scassero is the Director for Operations and Outreach for the University of Maryland Clark School of Engineering MATRIX Lab at the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland (USMSM). He promotes the Clark School’s role in the areas of integrated education and research (specifically focusing on autonomous technologies), outreach, and economic/community development. He completed a three-decade career flying off carriers for the Navy, and has both worked and volunteered in the social non-profit sector.

Scassero graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, holds a Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Baltimore, is a Leadership Maryland 2007 graduate and member of the LSM Leadership Council.

About Letters From Leaders

“Letters from Leaders,” a program of The Leadership Table with Matt Scassero, is a monthly series featuring real stories, insights, and reflections from leaders across Southern Maryland. The current theme, “Leading from Where You Are,” explores the many ways leadership happens in everyday moments.

Leadership is a journey, and we invite you to be part of it! Follow along in our newsletter and on social media, and be part of the conversation.

In September we’ll bring these lessons to life with a special live event: The Leadership Table with Matt Scassero – featuring “Letters from Leaders.” Join us for a dynamic, in-depth conversation where Scassero will sit down with all six contributing leaders in a live, interactive discussion.

Check back each month for a new letter, and stay tuned for details on our Leadership Table live event!