Brian Schaeffer serves as the Fire Chief for the Columbia Fire Department in Columbia, Missouri. He is a second-generation firefighter who began his fire service career in 1989 and has spent more than three decades serving communities as a firefighter/paramedic, flight paramedic, chief officer, 911 PSAP Director, and educator.

Brian believes deeply in lifelong learning and in the obligation of senior leaders to keep growing while helping others grow. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Fire Science, a Master of Public Administration, and a Master of Science in Leadership Education. He has also earned and maintained numerous professional certifications and credentials, including CFO and CEMSO designations through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International.

In addition to his work as a fire chief, Brian writes for Lexipol and teaches with an organization he founded with his friend and former coworker, Attorney and Retired Fire Chief Carl Scarborough. Together, they built a small organization called S2 Strategies to assist fire districts and departments in developing healthy cultures, improving labor-management relationships, and addressing the human side of fire service leadership from both labor and chief officer perspectives. Together, they believe in a philosophy anchored in service, clarity, accountability, and the idea that the fire service is at its best when it develops leaders on both sides of the table and at every level of the organization.

Brian currently serves on national public safety committees and remains active in advancing the fire service through teaching, writing, and professional engagement. His work reflects a careerlong commitment to protecting communities, strengthening fire departments, and leaving the profession better prepared for the future.