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Meet our Founder, Chief Randy Bruegman
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"I have learned it is not about me but about making an impact on others. It truly is the biggest reward that we can have, no matter what your profession is."
In the world we live in today, we need for those in leadership positions to walk their talk and lead by example.
The leadership void that exists is evident in government and in many public and private organizations today. That is why we created The Leadership Crucible Foundation, to focus on the development of leaders and two core traits that are essential to become a leader who makes a positive difference in the lives of others. The first is to leave organizations better than how they're found, and the second is to pay it forward to the next generation of leaders.
Randy Bruegman is the former Fire Chief of the Anaheim Fire & Rescue Department. He retired from this position after 40 years in the fire and emergency services. During 27 of those years, he led five different departments across the United States, including the division in Anaheim, California. In Anaheim, he was responsible for the safety of 370,000 citizens as well as that of 25 million annual Disneyland tourists, Anaheim Convention Center visitors, fans of popular sports teams like the Los Angeles Angels and the Anaheim Ducks, and travelers to the multitude of hotels, attractions, and businesses in the area.
Randy is nationally recognized as one of the most admired and competent leaders in the fire service.
In leading a team of 280 professionals, extreme humility, community safety, and putting the lives of others first became pillars for his position. The training programs he developed, combined with his leadership style, equipped his team to face and overcome even the most difficult challenges.
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Following his retirement from the service, Chief Bruegman continues to use his influence to impact fire and emergency programs across the nation. As the founder of the Leadership Crucible Foundation and host of the Leadership Crucible podcast, Randy’s goal has also become to focus on those leadership behaviors that make people and organizations successful, no matter the profession.
The lessons he is sharing through the resources developed by his foundation will transform the outlook of future leadership while changing the way you think about leading others through normalcy and in a crisis.
Remember, “you have to be a student before you can be a teacher.”
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There is leadership…there is uncommon leadership, and there is extraordinary leadership - that of the servant leader: the high ground of leadership. Simon Sinek, noted servant, leadership author, and lecturer says: “Leadership is not about being in charge. It’s about caring for those in your charge.”
There is much to learn about leadership from one who has led people serving in one of the most respected professions in the nation: America’s Fire and Emergency Services. A calm strength borne of the challenges of leading men and women sworn to protect the safety of our citizens 24/7 defines the character of Fire Chief Randy Bruegman.
With years of experience-first following, and then leading others, Randy Bruegman provides a panorama of stories from a wide range of people who experience their own crucibles of leadership and growth, so that you can learn from their stories and Randy’s experience. Randy’s life is a great example of, “it is not where you start, but where you finish that matters."
From his own journey to the journey of those that share their own stories on his podcast, you too will be inspired and empowered to lead and teach others as your own journey takes shape and as you strive to leave it better than you found it and pay it forward to those that you lead.
93% of Americans
have a high level of trust in firefighters, according to Nuremberg Institute research.
RANDY R. BRUEGMAN AGENCY INNOVATION AWARD
This annual award will be presented to an agency that is internationally-accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International® (CFAI) and has worked collaboratively within their agency and community to innovate a practice leading to improved outcomes that could serve as a model for the greater fire and emergency service.
The goal of the award is to recognize, incentivize, and advocate for innovation in the fire and emergency service. Learn more.
CHIEF BRUEGMAN'S LATEST BOOK
Click the video to watch an interview with Chief Bruegman about his new book, Advanced Fire and Emergency Services Administration, Second Edition.
In this book, Chief Bruegman helps chiefs today and those that will lead in the future to position their organizations to be successful over the next three decades.
To read the original blog post from Public Safety Group, click here.
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