Welcome to
THE RESILIENT FORCE PROJECT
At the heart of The Resilient Force Project is the belief that resilience is a collective force — sparked by one person’s growth and carried forward through connection.
Rooted in values-based action, reflection, and compassionate accountability, we help individuals cultivate environments where belonging, courage, and growth can take root.
Resilience is the courage to face difficulty with honesty, take compassionate accountability for our choices, and reflect deeply enough to become stronger through the process. Supported by the people who stand with us, resilience is not simply about bouncing back — it is about becoming greater than where you started.
Our Team
Dr. Pettinelli grew up in Rome, NY, but spent much of his childhood moving through Florida, Bermuda, Germany, and Italy. Experiencing different places, cultures, and ways of life gave him a broad perspective on people, resilience, and human connection — a perspective that continues to shape the way he works with others today.
His personal challenges have been just as formative as his education and professional training. Those experiences are a meaningful part of why he is drawn to this work and why he approaches it with compassion, honesty, and grounded understanding.
At home, Dr. Pettinelli has been married for 21 years and is the father of one adult daughter and two teenage boys who keep life full and meaningful. Much of that fullness looks like coaching basketball, supporting his son through scouting, attending band concerts, and cheering loudly — and proudly — at cross country and track events.
When he is not coaching or standing on the sidelines, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his family, watching Syracuse University sports, attending games, and catching up with good friends. He also deeply values downtime and believes that knowing how to recharge is essential to resilience, wellbeing, and sustainable leadership.
Dr. Pettinelli brings that same straightforward, grounded, and genuine approach to everyone he works with. No pretense — just a real commitment to helping people reconnect with their strength, purpose, and resilience.
Dr. Michael Pettinelli II
Donald Joseph Roussel,
MSW, LICSW
Donald Joseph Roussel, MSW, LICSW, is a partner and strategic resilience consultant with The Resilient Force Project, where he provides leadership consultation on workplace resilience, drawing on decades of experience as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and a compassionate clinician committed to improving wellbeing and readiness.
With more than 20 years of experience across federal, military, healthcare, and community settings, his work spans clinical assessment, psychological resilience, suicide and violence prevention, organizational wellness, and integrated primary prevention strategy. He is the owner of Psychological Resilience Consulting and Training, LLC, and previously served as Director of Psychological Health for the New Hampshire Air National Guard. He also advises the leadership of United Postmasters and Managers of America on mental wellness and resilience.
Donald holds a Master of Social Work from the University of New Hampshire and is licensed as an LICSW in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.