Leadership Forged
Under Fire.
Executive Advisor • Keynote Speaker • Board Advisor • Organizational Consultant • National Media Contributor
Former Chief of the Minneapolis Police Department. Former Deputy Mayor & Public Safety Director of Newark. Keynote speaker, executive advisor, and organizational consultant.
Credentials
National Media Coverage
Engagements
How Organizations Engage Brian
Executive Advisory
Trusted counsel for leaders navigating complex organizational challenges.
Keynote Speaking
Practical leadership lessons drawn from high-stakes experience.
Board Service
Independent governance and strategic oversight for organizations facing growth, risk, or transformation.
Media & Thought Leadership
National commentary on leadership, crisis management, and public safety.
Latest National Commentary
In the National
Conversation.
Why Brian O'Hara
Credibility Built
Under Pressure.
Led one of America's most scrutinized police departments through historic crisis and reform
Drove measurable reductions in violent crime while navigating federal oversight
Managed a $225M+ public safety budget and 2,000+ person workforce
Appeared on 60 Minutes, Face the Nation, PBS Firing Line, NYT, Washington Post, and Newsweek
Published thought leader on crisis leadership, organizational transformation, and public trust
Executive advisor to leaders navigating high-stakes organizational challenges
Keynote speaker for Fortune 500 companies, universities, government, and boards
FBI National Executive Institute · Harvard Kennedy School · FBI National Academy
Thought Leadership
The Ideas That Drive
the Work.
Leadership During Crisis
The most consequential leadership decisions are made under conditions of uncertainty, public scrutiny, and institutional stress. Brian's work examines how executives lead decisively when the stakes are highest.
Trust & Public Accountability
Organizational effectiveness depends on public and institutional trust. Brian's writing and speaking examine how leaders build, lose, and rebuild trust — the foundation of every other leadership outcome.
Executive Decision-Making
High-stakes decisions require more than good judgment — they require a disciplined process, clear values, and the courage to act when the path forward is anything but certain.
Executive Advisory
When the Stakes Are High,
Experience Matters.
CEO & Executive Advisory
A trusted, experienced advisor for senior leaders navigating crisis, transformation, and high-stakes organizational challenges.
Crisis Leadership
Real-time advisory and strategic counsel for organizations facing acute operational, reputational, or workforce crises.
Organizational Transformation
Partnering with leaders to stabilize struggling organizations, rebuild culture, and drive lasting structural change.
Board Advisory
Bringing executive leadership expertise and crisis experience to corporate and nonprofit boards.
Executive Communications
Helping leaders communicate with clarity, authority, and credibility during periods of intense public scrutiny.
Leadership Development
Building the leadership capacity of executive teams through coaching, assessment, and structured development programs.
Procurement Consulting
Advising organizations on procurement strategy, vendor selection, and contract frameworks for complex public-sector and institutional environments.
Organizational Assessments
Comprehensive evaluations of organizational health, leadership effectiveness, and operational readiness — with actionable recommendations for improvement.
Past Engagements
Public Safety Summit at Harvard
FBI National Academy Associates
National League of Cities
Senior Management Institute for Police
Penn Carey Law School Quattrone Center
International Association of Chiefs of Police
Executive Advisor · Keynote Speaker · Board Advisor · Organizational Consultant · National Media Contributor
Ready to Work
With Brian?
Whether you're booking a keynote speaker, seeking an executive advisor, requesting an organizational assessment, exploring technology procurement, or requesting a media interview — Brian works with a select number of partners each year. Reach out to start the conversation.