Meet Our Course Instructors
Our instructors and facilitators are bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our courses and we are proud to have them on our team!
Principles of Executive Leadership in Policing
Chief of Police (Retired), Mountain Valley Police Department
Max Bosel was Mountain View, California’s Police Chief from August, 2014 until his service retirement in December, 2020. He returned as Interim Chief in 2023. He also served as Interim City Manager.
A former board member of the California Police Chiefs Association, Max now serves CPCA on the Finance Committee, Peer Support Team, and as the Executive Leadership Certificate Program facilitator.
Max was selected as a Fellow at Stanford University’s Distinguished Careers Institute, where he completed graduate-level coursework and continues to participate in intergenerational mentoring.
Chief (Retired), Hawthorne Police Department
Michael Ishii worked for the Hawthorne Police Department from 1990-2022, the last four as the Chief. He worked various assignments during his career, including Motor Officer, Traffic Investigator, Field Training Officer, Internal Affairs Sergeant, Public Information Officer, Patrol Bureau Watch Commander, and Detective Bureau Commander. He was promoted to Captain in 2010 and oversaw the Administration and Operations Divisions of the Police Department along with the City’s Information Technology Services Bureau.
During his tenure as Chief, Chief Ishii helped transform the department into a community policing-driven culture that prioritized creating an organizational culture focused on employee empowerment, wellness, and innovating community policing programs. He implemented the Hawthorne Safe Initiative, a policing strategy that provided safety and engagement in five key areas: Parks, Schools, Traffic, Neighborhoods, and Businesses. He also created the Care for Blue Initiative that focused on Officer wellness in mental care, career mentoring, finance, and health.
Under Chief Ishii's leadership, significant cultural changes took place, particularly in the field of medical care provided by first responders. He hired the region's first and only full-time Medical Director responsible for overseeing the Paramedic, EMT, and Tactical Medicine programs. By the end of 2022, the Hawthorne Police Department had six fully trained paramedics and over 25 officers certified as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs).
In 2011, Chief Ishii was part of the team that helped create the national Coffee with a Cop program, which has gone on to become one of the most successful national community policing programs with events held in all 50 States, 41 countries, and in 9 languages. He also developed the National Coffee with a Cop website and started the National Coffee with a Cop Day (held annually nationwide on the 1st Wednesday of October). Chief Ishii continues to oversee the Coffee with a Cop non-profit organization as the Program Manager and CEO.
Chief Ishii holds a MA in Negotiation, Conflict/Management from California State University Dominguez Hills, as well as a BA in Communication Studies - Interpersonal and Organizational Communication from California State University Long Beach. He was born in Japan and grew up on a US military base near Tokyo and is fluent in Japanese.
Commander, Madera Police Department
Josiah Arnold is a commander with the Madera Police Department, where he’s worked for 22 years. He is also a NASM certified personal trainer and nutrition coach, a UESCA certified ultra marathon coach, and a member of the California Police Chief’s Association Organizational Wellness and Resiliency Committee.
Josiah is the owner of Apex Training Solutions, which among other things, provides health training to law enforcement officers.
He is married with four children and enjoys trail running, wine tasting and managing a losing fantasy football team.
CEO & Founder, Apogee Global RMS
M.K. Palmore is the CEO and Founder of Apogee Global RMS, an enterprise risk management firm providing assessments in cybersecurity, physical security and safety, strategy consulting, leader development, and executive search. Apogee equips organizations to manage complex risks while developing resilient, forward-looking leadership.
M.K.’s 35-year career spans the U.S. military, federal law enforcement, and the private sector, making him a trusted advisor at the intersection of risk, strategy, and leadership. His path began at the United States Naval Academy and as a U.S. Marine Corps officer.
He later served in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), rising into senior leadership and overseeing one of the world’s premier cybersecurity investigative teams.
Transitioning to the private sector, M.K. held executive roles at two leading global cybersecurity and technology firms, where he gained critical insight into managing enterprise risk at scale and bridging the gap between security, strategy, and the boardroom.
Recognizing the need for integrated expertise, he founded Apogee Global RMS. The firm provides board-level advisory services, risk assessment & solutions, and leadership development programs that help organizations strengthen defenses, refine strategies, and build resilient leaders.
Critical Leadership Issues in Policing
Chief of Police (Retired), Mountain Valley Police Department
Max Bosel was Mountain View, California’s Police Chief from August, 2014 until his service retirement in December, 2020. He returned as Interim Chief in 2023. He also served as Interim City Manager.
A former board member of the California Police Chiefs Association, Max now serves CPCA on the Finance Committee, Peer Support Team, and as the Executive Leadership Certificate Program facilitator.
Max was selected as a Fellow at Stanford University’s Distinguished Careers Institute, where he completed graduate-level coursework and continues to participate in intergenerational mentoring.
Chief (Retired), Bakersfield Police Department
Lyle Martin attended local schools in Bakersfield, CA. Lyle possesses a Master’s degree of Business Administration and has completed his course work toward his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership. December of 2016, Lyle Martin was selected as the 20th Chief of Police for the Bakersfield Police Department. Chief Martin worked for the Bakersfield Police Department for 32 years. His experience includes serving as a street level narcotics officer, motorcycle officer, homicide detective, Special Enforcement Unit Sergeant and Lieutenant, SWAT operator and SWAT team leader. After retiring from the Bakersfield Police Department (2019) Chief Martin was selected as the Chief Investigator for the Kern County District Attorney’s Office to lead the organization’s transition (2020).
Chief Martin is a recognized Subject Matter Expert in Law Enforcement Executive Management Development by California Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST). Chief Martin was a planning committee member and is a graduate of the first cohort of the California Police Chiefs Executive Leadership Institute at Drucker. He was appointed by the Board of State and Community Corrections to the JAG Grant Executive Steering Committee as a Subject Matter Expert for the 2018 funding cycle representing California municipal police departments. Chief Martin is dedicated to public safety and quality of life issues in our community.
Chief Martin is Adjunct Faculty for California State University Bakersfield, Bakersfield College, and was the Lead Faculty Area Chair for the University of Phoenix Central Valley Campus for over 10 years.
Chief Martin is a member of Bakersfield Downtown Rotary, International Association of Chiefs of Police, California Police Chiefs’ Association, California Police Officers Association, Board Member for Mendiburu Magic Foundation, and Kegley Institute of Ethics Community Associate (California State University Bakersfield), California State University Bakersfield Center for Social Justice founding board member, Adventist Health Governing Board member, and President of the Bakersfield Police Activities League (BPAL). Chief Martin also enjoys reading and working out.
Chief (Retired), Gardena Police Department
Edward Medrano is currently the President of a private consulting firm. He recently served the Attorney General as the Chief of the Division of Law Enforcement (DLE) for the CA Department of Justice. In his capacity as Chief, he is accountable to over 1000 personnel in the Division’s four bureaus—Investigations, Gambling, Firearms, Forensics—and responsible for the management of a 270 million-dollar budget.
Before this position, Edward has over thirty years of Public Service, including eleven years as a Police Chief and two years as a City Manager. Chief Medrano has served as the President of both the California Police Chiefs Association and The Los Angeles County Police Chief’s Association.
In addition to his professional career, Chief Medrano serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Southern CA (USC) at the Sol Price School of Public Policy.
Edward possesses a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a Master’s Degree in Executive Leadership. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and is a United States Marine Corps Veteran.
Chief (Retired), Anaheim Police Department
Bio Coming Soon!
Attorney and President, Alikhan Insights, LLC
Bio Coming Soon!
Effective Stewardship in Policing
Chief of Police (Retired), Mountain Valley Police Department
Max Bosel was Mountain View, California’s Police Chief from August, 2014 until his service retirement in December, 2020. He returned as Interim Chief in 2023. He also served as Interim City Manager.
A former board member of the California Police Chiefs Association, Max now serves CPCA on the Finance Committee, Peer Support Team, and as the Executive Leadership Certificate Program facilitator.
Max was selected as a Fellow at Stanford University’s Distinguished Careers Institute, where he completed graduate-level coursework and continues to participate in intergenerational mentoring.
Chief (Retired), Sacramento Police Department
Retired Chief Daniel Hahn was raised in the Oak Park neighborhood of Sacramento after being adopted at three months old. When he was nine years old, he witnessed gun violence, including a murder, and at age 16, he was arrested for resisting an officer. His younger brother was murdered by gun violence in downtown Sacramento in 1992.
Although he never considered a career in law enforcement growing up, Hahn was persuaded to apply for the Sacramento Police Department while attending Sacramento City College. He was hired as a community service officer in 1987 and rose to the rank of captain. He served in numerous assignments at Sacramento PD, including public information officer, high school criminal justice academy coordinator, watch commander, special investigations commander, patrol commander, and commander of the Personnel Division.
In March 2011, Hahn was selected and sworn in as chief of police in the nearby city of Roseville. In August 2017, after six years at the helm in Roseville, he returned to his hometown to become the Sacramento Police Department’s 45th chief of police. He is also the first African American to hold the office in Sacramento. Eclipsing a distinguished 34-year career in policing, Hahn retired in December 2021. He now serves as dean of the Sacramento Regional Public Safety Center at American River College.
Chief Hahn demonstrated model leadership through several high-profile crises, all the while being focused on the vitality of the Sacramento community and the fidelity of the police department to be at its professional best. He led with genuine belief that by working in true partnership with the community, Sacramento would remain a great city in which to live, work and play.
Throughout his career, Chief Hahn was honored with numerous awards. He is a member of several professional organizations, including the California Police Chiefs Association and the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and he has perpetually volunteered his time on boards and committees throughout the region. He serves as an adjunct professor at California State University, Sacramento, and he regularly teaches a history and bias course that he developed through years of research.
Hahn holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from California State University, Sacramento and a master’s degree in Public Administration from National University. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy, P.O.S.T. Command College, Sierra Health Foundation Leadership Program, American Leadership Forum (ALF), and Stanford University’s Local Governance Summer Institute.
Chief Hahn is also a committed and proud father of two incredible daughters, and dedicated husband to his beautiful and always supportive wife, Katrina.
Dean of Public Policy, Pepperdine University
Pete Peterson is a leading national speaker and writer on issues related to civic participation, and the use of technology to make government more responsive and transparent.
He was the first executive director of the bi-partisan organization, Common Sense California, which in 2010 joined with the Davenport Institute at the School of Public Policy to become the Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership. In 2008, he developed the organization's annual Public Engagement Grant Program, which has provided over $500,000.00 in grants over the last several years to dozens of municipal governments across California. Peterson has also consulted on several of these projects with local governments, and has directly facilitated public meetings.
Peterson has co-created and currently co-facilitates the training seminar, "Public Engagement: The Vital Leadership Skill in Difficult Times" a program that has been attended by over 2,000 municipal officials, and he also co-created and co-facilitates the seminar, "Gov 2.0: What Public Officials Need to Know."
Peterson writes widely on public engagement for a variety major news outlets including the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, and San Francisco Chronicle, as well as numerous blogs. He is a regular guest on the "Politics Roundtable" with host Larry Mantle on KPCC radio. He has also helped write several survey-based reports on the subject, including "Testing the Waters: California's Local Officials Experiment with New Ways to Engage the Public" (in collaboration with the League of California Cities), and the "California Civic Health Index" (in collaboration with the National Conference on Citizenship). He contributed the chapter, "Place As Pragmatic Policy" to the edited volume, Why Place Matters: Geography, Identity, and Civic Life in Modern America (New Atlantis Books, 2014), and the chapter "Do-It Ourselves Citizenship" in the volume, Localism in the Mass Age (Wipf & Stock, 2018).
Pete has been a public affairs fellow at The Hoover Institution, and he serves on the Leadership Councils of the Public Policy Institute of California and California Forward, and on the boards of the Homeland Security Advisory Council and the Da Vinci Charter Schools.
Peterson was the Republican candidate for California Secretary of State in 2014.
Sheriff (Retired), King County Sheriff's Office
Sue Rahr began her 45-year law enforcement career as a deputy with the King County Sheriff’s Office in 1979 and worked her way up through the ranks until she was elected Sheriff in 2005, served two terms and retired in 2012. She led over 1,000 employees providing police service to over 500,000 residents in unincorporated King County, 12 contract cities, and transit policing for the Seattle/Puget Sound region.
In 2012 she was appointed Executive Director of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission where she served for nine years and was responsible for training all city and county law enforcement and corrections officers in the state, as well as many other criminal justice professionals.
In 2024 she was appointed to be the Interim Chief of Police for the City of Seattle for eight months, where she led over 1,800 employees, providing police services to 750,000 residents.
She served as a member of the “Executive Session on Policing” at the Harvard Kennedy School from 2011-2014; served on the “President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing” in 2015; was a consultant with the NYU Law School Policing Project to Reimagine Policing; and many other organizations dedicated to transforming American policing.
She served on many non-profit, community, and professional boards holding the following offices:
- President - Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs
- Commissioner - Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission
- Executive Board - National Sheriffs Association
- Board of Directors for the National Policing Institute
She graduated Cum Laude with a BA in Criminal Justice from Washington State University and is a graduate of the National Sheriff’s Institute and the FBI National Executive Institute. She co-authored the seminal academic paper about transforming the training culture at the WA State Criminal Justice Training Commission - published in 2015 by the Harvard Kennedy School and the National Institute of Justice – introducing the national dialogue on shifting police culture from warriors to guardians.
Co-Founder of Center on Police Culture, LLC
Karen Collins Rice, M.S. is the co-founder of both the Center on Police Culture, LLC and Heroes Active Bystandership Training, LLC. With over 30 years of experience in organizational development, curriculum design, and leadership development, she has played a pivotal role in shaping effective, values-driven approaches to public safety leadership.
Karen serves as the curriculum designer for Georgetown Law’s Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) Project, and is the Chief Program Architect of Trust-Centered Leadership—an innovative police leadership development program focused on cultivating emotional intelligence, effective communication, and the ability to foster healthy organizational cultures.
A skilled facilitator, Karen has also partnered with organizations such as the National Police Foundation and the Behind the Badge Foundation, guiding them through strategic planning processes designed to integrate values, vision, and strategic goals into day-to-day operations through sustainable, internally driven frameworks
Chief (Retired), Bakersfield Police Department
Lyle Martin attended local schools in Bakersfield, CA. Lyle possesses a Master’s degree of Business Administration and has completed his course work toward his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership. December of 2016, Lyle Martin was selected as the 20th Chief of Police for the Bakersfield Police Department. Chief Martin worked for the Bakersfield Police Department for 32 years. His experience includes serving as a street level narcotics officer, motorcycle officer, homicide detective, Special Enforcement Unit Sergeant and Lieutenant, SWAT operator and SWAT team leader. After retiring from the Bakersfield Police Department (2019) Chief Martin was selected as the Chief Investigator for the Kern County District Attorney’s Office to lead the organization’s transition (2020).
Chief Martin is a recognized Subject Matter Expert in Law Enforcement Executive Management Development by California Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST). Chief Martin was a planning committee member and is a graduate of the first cohort of the California Police Chiefs Executive Leadership Institute at Drucker. He was appointed by the Board of State and Community Corrections to the JAG Grant Executive Steering Committee as a Subject Matter Expert for the 2018 funding cycle representing California municipal police departments. Chief Martin is dedicated to public safety and quality of life issues in our community.
Chief Martin is Adjunct Faculty for California State University Bakersfield, Bakersfield College, and was the Lead Faculty Area Chair for the University of Phoenix Central Valley Campus for over 10 years.
Chief Martin is a member of Bakersfield Downtown Rotary, International Association of Chiefs of Police, California Police Chiefs’ Association, California Police Officers Association, Board Member for Mendiburu Magic Foundation, and Kegley Institute of Ethics Community Associate (California State University Bakersfield), California State University Bakersfield Center for Social Justice founding board member, Adventist Health Governing Board member, and President of the Bakersfield Police Activities League (BPAL). Chief Martin also enjoys reading and working out.
Chief (Retired), Anaheim Police Department
Bio Coming Soon!
Police Chief & City Manager
City Manager (Retired), City of Novato
Mr. Adam McGill has thirty-two years’ experience in the public sector, twenty-eight of which in policing, and his last four years as a city manager. He has worked in nearly every capacity of policing, serving as a police chief for ten consecutive years in three different California cities. He is known as a visionary and forward-looking executive with experience leading positive reforms and change within organizations.
From January 2017 until his retirement in December of 2023, Mr. McGill served the City of Novato in Marin County, California. For his final four years he served as City Manager where he led a team of three hundred employees while administering a $71 million annual budget. Ahead of his last appointment, Mr. McGill was the Chief of Police for Novato from January 2017 to November 2019.
Prior to joining the City of Novato, Mr. McGill served as Chief of Police to the Town of Truckee, an incorporated town near the north shore of Lake Tahoe with a population of more than 16,000 covering an area of 33.66 square miles. His efforts were formally recognized with the award “Excellence in Government” by the Tahoe Truckee Chamber of Commerce 2013-2016.
Mr. McGill previously served as a Senior Police Advisor and US Diplomat with the United States Department of State where he was assigned to Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs based out of the US Embassy Baghdad, Iraq. He led the police development program of more than 1,000 employees tasked to improve stability in Iraq through the provision of professional policing services and developing the capacity of the Ministry of Interior (MOI) to manage and sustain internal security operations.
Further, in his inaugural Chief of Police role, Mr. McGill served the City of Newman in Stanislaus County. Mr. McGill grew his career with the City of Modesto Police Department where he served as the Commander of the Critical Incident Team and of the Stanislaus Drug Enforcement Agency. Finally, he helped propel the high-profile Laci Peterson (Scott Peterson) murder investigation and prosecution as a key member of the investigative team.
Mr. McGill has a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration and a Master of Science in Emergency Services Administration from California State University, Long Beach. Additionally, he is a graduate of the 261st session of the FBI National Academy. He also holds an Executive Certificate from California’s POST and completed the Leadership in Police Organizations course from the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
He previously served as an executive Board Member for the California Police Chiefs Association and until his retirement was a member of the executive board for the League of California Cities’ city manager department.
Chief (Retired), Vallejo Police Department
Chief Joseph Kreins is a tenured law enforcement and municipal government executive with more than 40 years of experience, working with cities, counties, and special districts throughout California. Chief Kreins began his career with the City of Concord, where he rose through the ranks of the police department. During his 17 years in Concord, he served as the department’s first-ever Public Information Officer (a position that held for 4 years). He was one of the department’s key architects in working to develop their community engagement and community policing strategies in the 1980’s and 1990’s. After serving as a District Commander, Kreins left Concord in 2001 and was appointed Chief of Police for the Sausalito Police Department. In 2003, Kreins was appointed to the position of assistant city manager. Along with his position as Chief of Police, his responsibilities included leadership and management of the City Fire Department, as well as Information Technology and City Parking Services.
In 2004, Chief Kreins left Sausalito and was appointed Chief of Police for the City of Novato, a community of approximately 55,000 residents. He led that department until 2012, when he was recruited to serve as Chief of Police for the City of Vallejo (2012-2014), a community of 120,000. Chief Kreins provided leadership in Vallejo during a critical period, following that City’s emergence from bankruptcy. During that time, police staffing levels were significantly reduced due to financial challenges, and there were serious concerns about crime in Vallejo. During his tenure in Vallejo, the Department successfully reduced crime across all categories, enhanced community trust and relationships, and significantly restored police staffing and public safety credibility.
From 2014-2022, Chief Kreins served as the interim Chief of Police in the cities of Vallejo, Benicia, Winters, Novato, Clayton and Suisun City. He also served as a Special Advisor and public safety consultant to the CEO of the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART). Additionally, Kreins served as consultant to the Central Marin Police Authority, and the Redlands and Vacaville Police Departments, completing leadership development, team building, strategic planning and comprehensive organizational audits of those agencies. He has facilitated several organizational audits/assessments of numerous law enforcement agencies throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
Chief Kreins has worked as an independent municipal government and law enforcement consultant for more than 10 years, and has served as a POST certified facilitator/presenter for California law enforcement agencies in team building and strategic planning workshops. He has additional experience working with city managers and elected officials in providing consulting services to include goal setting and strategic planning, management planning, coaching and mentoring, and budget development. Additional consulting services have included: clients for supervisory/management and executive recruitments, promotional processes, organizational audits/assessments, and numerous team building and strategic planning workshops. Chief Kreins has consulted with more than 35 law enforcement agencies, municipalities, counties and special districts throughout California.
While serving more than 20 years as a police chief and interim police chief, Kreins has become a subject matter expert in managing executive transitions in law enforcement agencies, and working with agencies to develop succession planning, goal-setting and strategic planning.
Chief Kreins holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Relations Management from Golden Gate University (magna cum laude). He holds certificates from the California Peace Officer Standards Training (P.O.S.T.), including a certificate in executive management. He has completed the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Law Enforcement Executive Development (LEEDS) program and the Senior Management Institute for Policing (SMIP) sponsored by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). Kreins has also attended many legal update seminars, numerous management and leadership symposiums through the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Police Executive Research Forum, California Peace Officers Association, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and California Police Chiefs Association.
Chief Kreins is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), has served on the board of directors for the California Police Chiefs Association (CPCA), and was president of the Solano County Law Enforcement Administrators Association and the Marin County Police Chiefs Association. He is a member of the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) and California Peace Officers Association (CPOA). He served on the board of directors of the Marin Emergency Radio Authority (MERA), and he has also held leadership positions in Rotary International, North Marin Community Services – Novato Youth Center, and the Mt. Diablo YMCA board of directors.
For more than 30 years, Kreins has taught a variety of law enforcement training courses including; police/media relations, crisis communications, community-policing and problem-solving, community-oriented government, leadership development, and developing first-line supervisors. These courses were taught through the Peace Officers Standards Training programs (POST) – Supervisory and Management courses, the California State Training Institute (CSTI) – and the California Office of Emergency Services (OES).
Executive Assistants
Chief, San Rafael Police Department
Dave’s public service started in the late 1980’s with the San Diego Police Department, where he worked as a patrol officer for a short time before joining the Mountain View Police Department in Northern California. With well over a decade of service in various department operations with the Mountain View Police Department, Dave earned a strong reputation as an effective problem solver and collaborator.
Dave later sought out a position with the City of Pleasanton and joined the Pleasanton Police Department as the Administrative Lieutenant. After being appointed to the rank of Captain in 2003, Dave had rotated to manage both major divisions of his department, which includes the Patrol Division as well as the Investigations and Support Services Division. Dave moved on to the position of Police Chief in 2011 to provide overall leadership to the organization and worked to oversee all aspects of Police Department operations as Pleasanton’s sixth Police Chief.
In the wake of serving the Pleasanton community, Dave went on to serve the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Office of Internal Affairs as a member of the organization’s Deadly Force Review Board as well as the City of Menlo Park as the Interim Police Chief.
In early 2021, Dave continued his professional law enforcement career being appointed to the position of Police Chief for the City of San Rafael, where he currently serves to lead the organization.
Dave has an Associate’s Degree in Administration of Justice from De Anza College in Cupertino, a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Behavior from the University of San Francisco as well as a Master’s Degree from Saint Mary’s College in Public Sector Leadership. Dave is a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police through the Police Executive Research Forum, a graduate of the California POST Command College and a graduate of FBI LEEDS.
Dave is very involved in his community and in his profession – he serves the Board of Directors for the California Police Chief’s Association as the Co-Chair of the Training Committee and he is an independent, contract trainer and group facilitator serving non-profit organizations and municipal government.
Executive Assistant, Pleasanton Police Department
Kim is an experienced Executive Assistant with a demonstrated history of working in fast paced environments in law enforcement, local government, and the private sector. She began her career with Del Monte Foods, serving in increasing leadership roles prior to joining the City of Pleasanton in 2006. Kim worked in the Community Development Department providing administrative support for the Engineering, Traffic Engineering, Planning and Building Departments. Kim streamlined administrative processes and staffed the City’s Traffic Committee.
In 2010, Kim had the opportunity to join the Pleasanton Police Department as the Executive Assistant to the Chief of Police. Kim adapted well to the nuances of law enforcement and has had the honor and privilege of serving three Police Chiefs, as well as an Interim Police Chief during her tenure. Kim’s dedication to her role, her adaptability to a dynamic work environment, and her unwavering work ethic have earned her the trust and respect of her Chief, the department, the community, and her colleagues.
Kim has also held several ancillary roles including serving as an inaugural member of the department’s Branding Committee. Working alongside representatives from all disciplines of the organization, the team developed a new brand, logo, tagline, and platform for the Pleasanton Police Department. Kim currently serves as the department’s liaison to the Chief’s Advisory Board and is an Advisor to the department’s Volunteer in Policing Services program.
Kim holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego and is a yoga enthusiast, currently enrolled in an Advanced Yoga Studies Program. She lives in Pleasanton with her husband and daughter.
Owner, Software Solutions TeamFor over 20 years, Derek Crawford has been developing and delivering dynamic software training classes designed to increase employee productivity. Derek is the founder and owner of Software Solutions Team, located in San Luis Obispo, CA. Software Solutions Team is the largest software training company in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, providing end-user training to employees of public and private sector organizations. Derek’s energetic training approach has won acclaim for developing skills on the practical use of programs in fast-paced business environments - with emphasis on time-saving tips and tricks.
Assistant Chief (ret.), Mountain View Police Department
Jessica Nowaski is a seasoned law enforcement and coaching professional with a distinguished 26-year career in the Mountain View Police Department, where she led all facets of operations and administrative functions, ultimately serving as the Deputy Police Chief. Throughout her tenure, Jessica demonstrated exceptional leadership and strategic vision, overseeing critical areas such as
operational command, incident management, and personnel development.
Renowned for her leadership coaching, team building, facilitation, and public speaking, she was highly sought after both within and outside her department. Her ability to inspire and develop leaders at all levels has been instrumental in fostering a culture of excellence and resilience. Jessica's expertise in team building has enhanced collaboration and morale, while her facilitation skills have ensured effective communication and problem-solving across diverse groups. Jessica has proven leadership experience in:
• Operational Command and Administration
• Incident and Crisis Management
• Organizational and Professional Development
• Leadership and Managerial Coaching
• Strategic Planning
• Workshop Development and Delivery
• Organizational Learning and Research
• Facilitation and Presentation
• Public Speaking
• Personnel Investigations
In 2018, Jessica founded Athena Leadership Coaching, dedicated to empowering law enforcement professionals nationwide. She partners with personnel at all levels to tackle leadership challenges, uncover internal blocks, and enhance leadership strengths. Her workshops are creative, inspiring, and customized to client needs.
Jessica's dedication to professional development includes serving on the Women Leaders in Law Enforcement Symposium planning committee (2013-2019) and presenting at conferences like the California Police Chiefs Association Training Symposium and the Women Leaders in Law Enforcement Symposium.
She holds a B.A. in Criminal Justice Administration from Sonoma State University and an M.A. in Leadership with a focus on coaching and facilitation from St. Mary’s College of California. Jessica is a trained professional coach through the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC) and a member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
Jessica also teaches the Personal and Professional Growth for the Management course for the California Police Officers Standards and Training. She is proud of her research on managerial coaching, which she has presented at the Columbia University Coaching Conference and the International Leadership Association.
Chief (ret.), Mountain View Police Department
Chris is a founding board member and Executive Director of The Curve—a forward-thinking nonprofit founded in collaboration with Simon Sinek and visionary policing leaders from across the country. The Curve is dedicated to inspiring transformational leadership by equipping leaders with innovative strategies and resources to modernize police culture from within.
With over 28 years of distinguished service, including roles as Undersheriff at the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office (CA) and as the 11th Police Chief of the Mountain View Police Department (CA), Chris brings unparalleled operational insight and a commitment to progressive change. His hands-on experience in challenging environments uniquely informs his approach to coaching, helping leaders navigate complex issues with authenticity and innovation.
An internationally recognized speaker and writer, Chris specializes in adaptive leadership, digital engagement, and crisis communications. His thought leadership is reflected in his influential roles on multiple boards—serving as Chair of the IACP Human and Civil Rights Committee, advisor for Government Social Media, fellow for the Future Policing Institute, and board member on the Global Advisory Council for the Crisis Ready Institute. Previously, he held leadership positions as president of the Government Social Media Leadership Council, board member for the Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center, and two-term commissioner on the City of San Mateo Community Relations Commission.
A graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government program, Chris leverages his extensive experience and academic insight to empower leaders to embrace change, foster innovation, and lead with integrity.
Police Executives and the Administration of Disciplinary Action
Kevin Townsend has been a police officer for almost 27 years and is a captain with the Riverside Police Department. He earned a Doctor of Public Administration (DPA) degree and is an adjunct professor at California Baptist University. Kevin is a National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Science (LEADS) Scholar and studies various law enforcement, public sector, organizational, and leadership issues.