Arif Alikhan is a policy expert with over 25 years of experience developing innovative approaches and operational excellence in security and law enforcement. His career spans key leadership positions at the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the Los Angeles Police Department.

As former Director of Constitutional Policing and Policy for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), Arif implemented transformative policies that improved effectiveness while building community trust. He oversaw six LAPD divisions and over 300 personnel responsible for policy development, strategic planning, risk management, legal and government affairs, auditing and compliance functions, community relations, and media relations. Among many innovations and initiatives, he led LAPD’s body-worn camera program and created a critical incident briefing framework now adopted by agencies nationwide.

Currently serving as Special Advisor to the Chief of the LAPD, Arif guides complex organizational challenges and policy issues. He also delivers training programs for police agencies across the United States that have shaped current and future law enforcement executives, focusing on strategic thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills that strengthen operational effectiveness.

Arif’s extensive public service includes roles as Deputy Mayor for Homeland Security and Public Safety for Los Angeles, overseeing Police, Fire, and Emergency Management Departments; Director of Homeland Security at Los Angeles World Airports, leading 1,200 sworn and civilian security personnel; and Assistant Secretary for Policy Development at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He also served over a decade with the U.S. Department of Justice as a federal prosecutor and advisor to two U.S. Attorneys General.

His academic credentials include past positions as a Distinguished Professor at National Defense University and adjunct law professor at the University of Southern California and U.C. Irvine. Currently, he collaborates with the University of Chicago’s Crime Lab on police leadership programs and initiatives and is a subject matter expert for the National Law Enforcement Knowledge Lab.

Arif maintains his commitment to public service as a reserve police officer and LAPD Academy instructor, teaching constitutional policing and professionalism. His approach combines conceptual frameworks with operational knowledge to pursue justice and protect communities from harm.

Sarah Allen, Chief of Staff at Colorado State Patrol. Sarah, appointed as the Colorado State Patrol’s first Chief of Staff in 2020, is a strong advocate for professional staff and their essential role in the success of law enforcement agencies. In November 2024, Sarah published The Unsung Heroes in IACP Police Chief Magazine, highlighting the impact of professional staff on organizational effectiveness.

Krista Ashbery has served as the United States Capitol Police’s (USCP) Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) since December 15, 2025. She has more than 20 years of legal, financial and leadership experience.

Ms. Ashbery began her career as an agency attorney for the New York City Police Department (NYPD), where she provided legal counsel to the executive team regarding enforcement, employment issues, civil matters, and agency procedures.

Ms. Ashbery later led the NYPD’s Facilities Management Division and Office of Capital Planning & Oversight where she managed a $250 million capital construction budget. She also served as Deputy Chief of Staff for the Police Commissioner before being named the Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Strategic Initiatives, where she managed the Department’s long-term strategic plan.

Ms. Ashbery recently served as the Chief of Staff for the NYPD’s First Deputy Commissioner, before joining the USCP in December of 2025.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Muhlenberg College and a Juris Doctorate from Brooklyn Law School.

A seasoned government leader with experience in multiple New York City agencies, Amy Bishop currently serves as the Executive Director of the Project Management Office within the New York City Police Department. Amy joined the NYPD In 2017 as a Senior Project Manager, working with Department stakeholders to drive initiatives to increase efficiency through innovation and continuous improvement. Over the next seven years, she rose through the ranks of Deputy Director, Director, and most recently to Executive Director in June 2024. In this role, Amy leads a team of both civilian and uniformed staff managing projects that advance the Department’s mission. Among her accomplishments in these roles are the development of the NYPD Strategic Plans, the Department’s first health & wellness strategy, a Department-wide civilianization assessment, and the implementation of various police reform mandates.

Amy began her career in public service in 2006 at the Department of Transportation, supporting the agency’s small purchase and contracting processes. In June 2007, she joined the Mayor’s Office of Operations under Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, leading mayoral and interagency initiatives to drive change and efficiencies citywide, including the launch of an interactive KPI dashboard, the revamp of the City’s response to street conditions, and the release of the largest municipal customer satisfaction survey ever distributed. In 2014, Amy joined the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, overseeing efforts to improve customer service and program effectiveness.

Amy holds a Bachelor’s of Arts and Master’s of Public Administration from Binghamton University.

Matt Bromeland has served as the Chief of Staff of the Prince William County (Virginia) Police Department since August 2021. Prior to this role, he served for nearly five years as the Chief of Staff of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in Washington, D.C. He has also served in roles with the Richmond (VA) Police Department and two federal agencies. Matt has devoted his career to helping modernize agency operations and enhancing the way police departments can better serve the community. Matt has spearheaded and managed many of the Chief’s key initiatives and priorities, including an interagency initiative focused on repeat violent offenders, creation of a real-time investigative support unit, implementation of a new records management system, and most recently the establishment of a strategic analysis and intelligence hub. Matt holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from St. Olaf College in Minnesota. He is also a graduate of the David A. Clarke School of Law at the University of the District of Columbia and is a member in good standing of the District of Columbia Bar.

Heidi Fieselmann is a leader in using data, analytics, and technology to advance public safety and criminal justice initiatives. As Director of Customer-Focused Solutions at Mark43, she collaborates with industry experts and agencies nationwide to implement cutting-edge technology and data-driven strategies that improve operational efficiency and public accountability. Previously, Heidi served as Special Assistant to the Chief of Police at the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in Washington, D.C., where she managed the Chief of Police’s executive project portfolio, overseeing critical initiatives centered on data and analytics, technology, process improvements, and program evaluation. She also led a five-person team of data and behavioral scientists who evaluated MPD programs and processes, conducted advanced analytics, and recommended evidence-based solutions to address priorities such as gun violence, police stops, use of force, community engagement, training, and public safety transformation initiatives, including alternatives to traditional policing. Heidi guided the Department’s research agenda and oversaw large-scale projects to improve data quality and integrity. Additionally, she spearheaded the development of MPD’s Open Data platform, providing public access to key policing information, and managed a $1 million Crime Gun Intelligence Center grant to enhance the department’s ability to address gun violence. Before joining MPD, Heidi gained expertise in analytics and program management at Booz Allen Hamilton, supporting strategic planning, performance management, and process improvement initiatives for the Justice and Homeland Security market. A PMP-certified professional and Harvard Kennedy School graduate, Heidi is dedicated to fostering innovation in public safety systems.

Tara Hall is the Civilian Commander of Community Relations and Recruitment for the Mesa Police Department, Arizona’s third-largest agency. She oversees recruitment, career pathways, and community/youth programs, bringing over 20 years of leadership experience in public safety. In 2024, she co-authored “Pioneering Integration and Leadership in Law Enforcement” in Police Chief Magazine and was featured in Police1 for advancing Mesa PD’s recruitment culture. Tara led Mesa’s two-year Recruitment & Retention Strategic Plan, increasing women recruits to 22% by 2024. She manages the agency’s 30×30 Initiative and founded the Arizona 30×30 group to promote statewide progress for women in policing.

Tara was named NAWLEE’s 2025 Professional Staff Leader of the Year and is a recognized national speaker and AZWIN board member. She also helped develop UVA’s inaugural Civilian Leadership Summit and holds degrees from Northern Arizona University along with executive leadership training in policing.

Nola M. Joyce, Partner and Principal Consultant for 21CP Solutions, LLC, is a nationally recognized policing expert. She also served as Deputy Commissioner for the Philadelphia Police Department and held executive positions in the Washington, D.C., and Chicago Police Departments. She spearheaded significant organizational change efforts in these demanding public safety agencies, demonstrating exceptional ability to drive transformation.

Joyce’s achievements and recognition in policing and public safety are extensive and diverse. She served on several prestigious advisory boards, including the American Law Institute’s project Principles of the Law: Policing, and the National Science Academy’s Panel on Modernizing the Nation’s Criminal Statistics. Her expertise is widely recognized, as evidenced by her role on the International Association of Police Chiefs (IACP) Research Advisory Committee, the Police Executive Research Forum’s (PERF) Research Council, and as a Senior Executive Fellow of the National Institute of Policing. Joyce received the Gary P. Hayes Award from PERF and the Award of Research Excellence from IACP, further validating her significant contributions to the field.

Joyce is driven by a deep passion for helping agencies reach new heights of performance and service. Her advanced degrees in sociology, public policy, homeland security and diverse experiences bring unique and valuable perspectives to her work. This combination of passion and expertise allows her to find innovative solutions to complex issues.

Katie Leonard, Ph.D., is a Senior Program Manager II at the National Policing Institute. She joined NPI in November 2024 to direct the Law Enforcement Knowledge Lab, a federally-funded effort to identify and disseminate evidence-based, innovative policing practices, training, and technical assistance.

Previously, Dr. Leonard managed the policing and evaluation portfolio of work at the Crime and Justice Institute. She worked with departments to advance mandated change and with law enforcement agencies focused on self-directed innovation, guiding and supporting the implementation of initiatives that directly benefited officers and the communities they served.

Dr. Leonard holds a Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland, a Master’s Degree in Criminology from the University of Minnesota-Duluth, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from St. Catherine’s University in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Elizabeth M. Daitz is the Assistant Commissioner of Police for the Suffolk County Police Department. She drives strategic planning, implementation, and innovation, positioning Suffolk County to be one of the most innovative, efficient, effective and equitable law enforcement agencies while serving over 1.5 million residents across 913 square miles. She previously served as Executive Director, Civil Litigation and Executive Director, Strategic Initiatives for the NYPD. From 2019-2020, Elizabeth served as a White House Fellow in the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President. There, she drafted and implemented the President’s Executive Order “Safe Policing for Safe Communities.” Elizabeth began her career at the Office of the Corporation Counsel of the City of New York, where she handled multiple high profile federal civil rights cases. Elizabeth is a graduate of the Honors College at Adelphi University, St. John’s University School of Law, and a Session XXIX of the Police Management Institute at Columbia University. She is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Police Executive Research Forum, National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives, Chiefs of Police Association of Suffolk County, and the White House Fellows Foundation and Association.

Ganesha M. Martin, Esq. is a leading expert in human-centered policing and the founder of ”Let’s Meet in the Middle,” an initiative dedicated to fostering dialogue and collaboration between law enforcement and communities of color. Currently, she serves as Vice President of Public Policy and Community Affairs at Mark43, a cutting-edge, cloud-native public safety software company. In this role, Martin drives initiatives that leverage technology to enhance accountability, transparency and trust between police agencies and the communities they serve.

A trailblazer in criminal justice reform, Martin has held several key leadership positions in Baltimore City government, most recently as Director of the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ). There, she led comprehensive criminal justice reform efforts in collaboration with the Baltimore Police Department, the Baltimore State’s Attorney’s Office, the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention, the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the judiciary and numerous community organizations.

As an attorney, Martin played a central role in leading the federal court-ordered Consent Decree reform efforts at the Baltimore Police Department from 2015 to 2018. As Chief of the Department of Justice Compliance, Accountability and External Affairs Division, she was an integral member of the negotiation team that introduced transformative reforms in areas such as crisis intervention, use of force, mental health interventions, body-worn cameras, de-escalation tactics, community policing, officer wellness and early intervention systems. These reforms continue to serve as a model for law enforcement agencies nationwide.

A pioneer in public-private partnerships, Martin is committed to building nontraditional relationships that bridge divides and create opportunities for collaboration in public safety. In her current consulting work, she focuses on uniting law enforcement with communities of color, using her unique ability to connect with both sides and guide them toward common ground. She regularly advises nonprofits, private companies, tech startups, community organizations and local governments on best practices for policing, public safety and community engagement.

Martin is a respected thought leader in the field of criminal justice reform and public safety. She is a member of the Council on Criminal Justice, a nonpartisan think tank dedicated to advancing effective criminal justice policies. In 2019, she was one of 40 community policing experts invited to Nairobi, Kenya, by the Open Society Foundations to discuss strategies for civilian police reform. That same year, she was awarded the Securing Open Societies Fellowship. Her expert commentary on police reform, accountability and social justice has been featured in prominent publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, The Baltimore Sun, and The Baltimore Banner.

Known for her ability to navigate complex issues and overcome entrenched distrust, Martin is driven by a belief in the transformative power of communication and human connection. Her approach fosters collaboration across polarized groups and drives progress on some of society’s most challenging social issues. Her goal is to create practical pathways for police departments and communities to work together toward a safer and more equitable future.

Outside of her professional work, Martin is a passionate advocate for social justice and community empowerment. She serves as co-board chair for Teach For America  Baltimore, Outward Bound, the Baltimore Community Mediation Center, and Overcoming Poverty Together. She was recently appointed to 30×30, a grassroots movement dedicated to increasing the representation of women in policing by 30% by 2030. A graduate of Leadership Maryland and the Greater Baltimore Committee’s LEADERship program, Martin has been recognized for her leadership and impact by organizations such as The Baltimore Sun (Top 25 Women to Watch), The Daily Record (Top 100 Women), and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) (Top 40 Under 40).

Brian G. Maxey serves as the Director of Constitutional Policing for the Los Angeles Police Department, commanding the Constitutional Policing and Policy Bureau.

Brian previously served as General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer of the Seattle Police Department, overseeing Professional Standards, Budget and Finance, Administrative Services, Information Technology, and Intergovernmental Relations. He led the Department’s compliance work under its federal consent decree, driving reforms that took SPD beyond what the decree required and building accountability and constitutional policing systems designed to outlast federal oversight. He served as Executive Sponsor for major technology projects, such as implementation of a new records management system, creation of the Data Analytics Platform, and development of the Real Time Crime Center.

Brian is a civil rights litigator with more than twenty years of experience defending law enforcement officers and municipalities. He was a Supervising Assistant City Attorney at the Seattle City Attorney’s Office, serving as lead attorney for the Police Action Team on 42 U.S.C. § 1983 litigation and as principal legal advisor to SPD, and previously as an Assistant City Attorney in Government Affairs. Earlier, he was an Assistant Corporation Counsel in the Special Federal Litigation Unit of the New York City Law Department, representing the NYPD, and an Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Justice Division of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, representing the Department of Corrections and the Criminal Justice Training Commission. He has served on federal monitoring teams as Deputy Monitor in Cleveland and as a subject matter expert in Baltimore.

Most recently, Brian was Senior Counsel at Baker, Sterchi, Cowden & Rice LLC and a founding member of the firm’s Public Sector Risk Management & Consulting Group. He is also principal of Modern Policing/The Maxey Group LLC, through which he has consulted nationally on policing best practices. Earlier in his career, he worked at the Vera Institute of Justice on jury and juvenile court reform.

Brian holds a JD from Fordham University, an MPA in Policy from New York University, and a BA from Occidental College, and attended the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police. He is licensed to practice law in California, Washington, and New York.

Tanya Meisenholder, Ph.D., is the Director of Police Research at the NYU School of Law’s Policing Project. She brings nearly three decades of law enforcement and public safety experience, including nearly 20 years with the New York City Police Department. During her tenure at the NYPD, Dr. Meisenholder served in senior leadership roles, including Deputy Commissioner and Chief of Staff to the First Deputy Commissioner, where she guided major organizational initiatives and supported leadership development.

Throughout her career, she has led department-wide efforts centered on policy, accountability, officer development, employee engagement, workforce strategy, and the employee lifecycle. Her work is rooted in the understanding that proactive workforce strategies are directly connected to officer safety, wellness, and retention. Today, Dr. Meisenholder partners with agencies nationwide to translate these insights into practice, advising on organizational change to build safer, more supportive, and more effective law enforcement organizations.

Blake Norton, Chief Strategy Officer for the Sacramento Police Department, brings more than 30 years of distinguished experience in law enforcement and strategic management. As Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Norton oversees internal compliance, ensuring our operations meet all legislative mandates, and plays a key role in implementing best practices in risk management. Additionally, she leads our external communication efforts, advising on how we engage with the community, City Council, Sacramento Community Police Review Commission, and other stakeholders. Prior to joining SPD, she served as the Chief Strategy Officer for the Philadelphia Police Department from 2020 to 2024, where she was instrumental in shaping the department’s strategic initiatives. Before that, she held the position of Senior Vice President at the National Police Foundation, overseeing daily operations and initiatives aimed at improving policing practices across the country. Chief Norton’s extensive career also includes leadership roles at the Council of State Governments Justice Center, where she directed Local Government Initiatives, collaborating with policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels to develop and implement innovative criminal justice policies. She spent 19 years with the Boston Police Department, where she served as the Director of Public Affairs and Community Programs. In this role, she was responsible for designing and managing community engagement initiatives, particularly those aimed at supporting court-involved and at-risk youth, underscoring her deep commitment to community policing.

Zoe Russek-Sobol is the Chief Program Officer of the National Association of Professional Staff in Public Safety, where she drives strategies, programs, and member services to recognize, empower, and connect the association’s members. An experienced public safety strategist, she has worked at the intersection of policing, technology, and community relations for nearly a decade, leading large-scale initiatives, shaping policy, and building diverse, cross-sector partnerships.

Prior to her current role, Zoe served as a Senior Program Manager at the National Policing Institute, administering the Law Enforcement Knowledge Lab. Funded by a $9 million U.S. Department of Justice award, this initiative advanced constitutional policing and provided tailored technical assistance to agencies nationwide. At Axon Enterprise, she championed equitable public safety technology, leading the company’s Ethics and Equity Advisory Council to new prominence within Axon, and created pathways for continuous dialogue between communities and law enforcement. Her foundational work took shape at the University of Chicago Crime Lab, where she helped develop and pilot the Chicago Police Department’s early intervention system and coordinated large-scale research and technical assistance projects to support officer wellness and innovative crime reduction strategies.

Zoe holds a Master of Arts in Public Policy with Honors from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in the Major in Statistics and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Angela Simpson serves as the Chief People Officer for the DC Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). In this capacity, she collaborates closely with the Chief of Police and the executive leadership team to shape the department’s human capital strategy, organizational design, and culture transformation efforts. As a trusted advisor to senior leaders, she drives workforce optimization, guiding talent planning, leadership development, and change management initiatives to enhance both team effectiveness and employee experience.

As head of MPD’s Organizational Culture & Wellness Bureau (OCWB), Ms. Simpson provides enterprise-level leadership across seven critical divisions: the Human Resources Management Division, Employee Wellbeing Office, Medical Services Division, Metropolitan Police Academy Division, Disciplinary Review Division, Recruiting Division, and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Office. Through this unified framework, she advances a holistic approach to employee experience, wellness, and organizational culture, ensuring alignment with MPD’s mission and strategic goals.

Prior to her current role, Ms. Simpson served as MPD’s Human Resources Director for over six years, overseeing the full life cycle of human capital operations. Under her leadership, the Human Resources Management Division managed recruitment and onboarding, performance management, personnel action processing, job analysis, records management, and benefits and retirement coordination. With more than 30 years of experience across retail, government, and law enforcement sectors, she has successfully recruited, trained, coached, and mentored professionals at all levels. Her focus remains on cultivating a workplace that promotes professional growth, leadership development, and organizational agility.

Ms. Simpson holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management from the Catholic University of America and is a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SCP). She has completed executive programs, including the Women in Leadership Institute (WIL), the Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP) with the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), and the Executive Leaders Program at the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) and EEO Investigations from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations.
A proud native Washingtonian, Ms. Simpson continues to call Washington, DC, home.

Liam Price was appointed Director General, International Special Services, in July 2021. In this capacity, he is responsible for the RCMP’s international network of Liaison Officers, peace operations, overseas capacity building initiatives, and Canada’s Interpol National Central Bureau and Europol National Point of Contact. More recently, he has been elected as the delegate for the Americas for the INTERPOL Executive Committee.

Concurrent with these responsibilities, Mr. Price is the International Vice-President of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and a member of its Executive Board (since 2022); as well as Chair of the International Committee of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (since 2021).

Mr. Price is a senior civilian member of the RCMP. Prior to becoming Director General, Mr. Price was posted overseas; first as the RCMP’s embed with the National Crime Agency in London, UK and more recently, as the RCMP’s Regional Director for US & NE Caribbean in Washington, D.C. In these roles, he led proactive investigations, deepened bilateral mand multilateral ties and increased information sharing.

Between 2012 and 2015, Mr. Price served as Director, Operational Information Management, in Federal Policing at the RCMP. In that capacity, he oversaw the RCMP’s framework for the collection, assessment and prioritization of intelligence and the production of threat assessments on a range of topics.

Mr. Price joined the RCMP in 2006. Past assignments have included posts at the Privy Council Office, the office the Special Representative of INTERPOL to the United Nations, and the RCMP’s National Security Program. Before joining the RCMP, Mr. Price served with Library of Parliament as Team Lead for the Senate Standing Committee on National Security and Defence. With the Committee, he helped release a number of reports related to the state of Canadian emergency preparedness, military readiness, border security and veteran’s affairs.

His education and training is varied. Most recently, he completed professional training with Pearls in Policing, the CACP Global Studies Program, the Canadian Forces College and the FBI Academy. Academically, he received a Master’s degree in International Security Studies from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and a Bachelor of Science (Foreign Service) from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

Quiana Young serves as the Director of Advocacy, Engagement, and Communications at Brown University Department of Public Safety. As a member of the department’s command staff, she leads a division of sworn and non-sworn personnel, focusing on community engagement and support for victims of sensitive crimes.

Quiana’s career spans over a decade in higher education, where she designed impactful programs and advised students through their college journey. She also brings four years of experience in fundraising, during which she honed the art of building meaningful connections. A certified instructor for the Rhode Island VAWA Curriculum Committee, Quiana conducts academy and in-service training sessions, equipping officers with the tools to serve their communities with empathy and professionalism.

A proud native of Brooklyn, NY, Quiana holds a graduate degree in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago and an undergraduate degree in English and Theatre from Gettysburg College. Her passion for community building and power sharing drives her commitment to creating inclusive spaces where everyone can thrive. She began her journey in public safety as a college dispatcher, sparking a lifelong dedication to fostering trust and connection through service