2nd Annual - Leading Without a Badge Summit 2026 Video Recordings
Opening Remarks
Marvin “Ben” Haiman, Ryan Kao
Welcoming Remarks from UVA CPSJ and NAPSPS. Welcome by presenting sponsor Skydio.
Leading Without a Badge: The Evolving Role of Professional Staff in Public Safety
Ganesha Martin, Krista Ashbery, Brian G. Maxey, Arif Alikhan, Nola Joyce, Liam Price
This opening panel will examine how professional staff are transforming public safety through innovative leadership, cross-disciplinary expertise, and a reimagining of what it means to serve without a badge.
Navigating the Chain of Command with Confidence, Courage, and Credibility
Matthew Bromeland, Rebecca Rodriguez, Rachael Songalewski, Sasha Rutizer
A dynamic, scenario-driven session that uses real-world challenges, interactive polling, and candid discussion to explore how professional staff can confidently own their expertise, build influence, and navigate cultural or organizational barriers, especially in environments where support or authority may feel limited.
Fireside Chat #1: Bridging the Badge: Lessons in Leading Together, Part I
Krista Ashbery, Mike Sullivan
A conversation between a professional staff leader and a Chief of Police about leading.
Fireside Chat #2: Bridging the Badge: Lessons in Leading Together, Part II
Isa Abbassi, Amy Litwin
A conversation between a professional staff leader and a Chief of Police about leading.
Leading Without the Badge: Building Authority Through Competence in Uniformed Organizations
James Cook
This session offers a practical, research-informed roadmap for civilian public safety leaders to build credibility, close the “authority gap,” and lead confidently in rank-driven environments. Through case studies and actionable strategies, participants will learn how to leverage expertise, consistency, communication, and strategic alliances to earn respect, foster trust, and drive organizational impact—proving that effective leadership in public safety is grounded in competence, not rank.
Expanding the Role of Civilian Professionals in Investigations: A Path to Enhanced Efficiency and Community Trust
Nola Joyce, Ryan Kao, Kevin Strom
This panel explores how integrating civilian professionals into investigative units can modernize case management, reduce detective workload, and strengthen public safety outcomes through more efficient, innovative, and community-focused investigative practices.
Civilian Leadership in Launching and Running Real-Time Crime Centers (RTCC) and Fusion Centers
David Clow, Paris Lewbel, Amy Lay, Emily Meadows, Carolyn Montagna
This session explores how strategic partnerships and innovative technology can enhance operational efficiency, support public safety agencies’ core missions, and drive meaningful crime reduction through modern, collaborative approaches.
Performance Management Matters: Effective Practices for Employee Development
Scott Monroe, Dante Bidwell
Performance management is a critical component for any emergency services organization but is often not planned or implemented throughout departments appropriately. This engaging and interactive session will provide an overview of the current performance management trends, related scholarly research, common pitfalls of existing practices, and tools for success.
Modern Leadership: Sworn Leaders on Partnering with Professional Staff for Impact
Heidi Fieselmann, Paul Noel, John Drake, Daven Byrd, Wayne Jones
A conversation with policing leaders on the impact of professional staff in their organizations.
Keynote Address - General (Ret) Robert B. Neller
General Robert B. Neller (USMC Ret)
General Robert B. Neller (USMC Ret) will deliver a compelling keynote on how courage, character, and resilient leadership can empower public safety professionals to “lead without a badge” and shape the future of the profession.
LWOB 2026 Awards Ceremony
Recognition of professional staff leaders by Awards Sponsors Mark43 and Flock.
Creating a Culture of Belonging
Tipi Brookins, Jacorey Glaude, Tamara Bell, Andrew Dameron, Dru Clarke
This session empowers leaders to move beyond surface-level diversity efforts by cultivating a true culture of belonging—building trust, psychological safety, and meaningful connection through practical strategies that strengthen organizational health and sustain diversity in public safety.
Civilian Leadership During Efforts of Police Reform
Mike Milstein, Tyeesha Dixon, Chelsea Diaz, Allyson Clark Henson
This session examines how civilian leaders—using Chicago’s consent decree as a case study—drive meaningful police reform by leading policy, accountability, community engagement, and cultural change in heavily sworn environments, highlighting both the challenges and the strategies essential for advancing sustainable, court-mandated transformation.
A Civilian’s Toolkit: Strategy and Implementation Made Practical
Sarah Boyle
This session equips civilian public safety professionals with practical soft- and hard-skill strategies—rooted in real-world experience—to bridge the gap between ideas and implementation, build credibility, and create simple, effective systems that drive meaningful impact in their departments.
But We've Always Done it that Way: Driving Change through Project and Change Management Principles
Amy Bishop
This session equips public safety professionals with essential project and change management skills to effectively implement complex initiatives, overcome cultural barriers, and drive successful, agency-wide transformation.
Navigating the Media: A Conversation for Public Safety Executives
Josh Margolin
This presentation will offer a reporter’s prospective on how to formulate a comprehensive agency communications strategy, crisis communication response plan, and ways to work with the news media to improve external relations and community cooperation.
Strategic Planning
Marvin “Ben” Haiman
Interactive workshop discussing the future of public safety challenges. Explored the emergent trends in public safety.
Fireside Chat #3: Bridging the Badge: Lessons in Leading Together, Part III
Albert Stokes, Chief Rick Edwards
Fireside Chat #4: Bridging the Badge: Lessons in Leading Together, Part IV
Harold Medina, Jodie Esquibel
National Association of Professional Staff in Public Safety
