Ron Bell (USPA Director of Safety & Training) - Combating the Normalization of Deviance (Friday)

Summary: In skydiving—and in any high-risk endeavor—small shortcuts can quietly evolve into accepted norms when nothing goes wrong. This gradual shift, known as the normalization of deviance, has been blamed for everything from spacecraft disasters to medical errors. But what if the real issue isn’t deviance at all, but something deeper in human nature? This session explores how good people make risky choices, why we fail to notice the drift, and what can be done to reverse it before it becomes routine. Bio: Ron Bell is the Director of Safety & Training at the United States Parachute Association (USPA) where he leads initiatives to strengthen skydiving instruction, elevate standards, and safeguard the sport from creeping complacency. A seasoned instructor, examiner and former military paratrooper-turned-skydiving professional, Ron’s career has centred on building resilient training systems and guiding jumpers and instructors toward peak performance. His background spans both the operational rigor of airborne operations and the teaching mindset required to influence safety culture. With the evolving dynamics of risk in high-stakes environments — where shortcuts quietly become accepted norms — Ron’s mission is to help the skydiving community recognize that drift early, and instead chart a path toward consistent excellence. His approach blends practical field experience, deep instructional expertise, and a fundamental understanding of human nature under pressure.