Brian Schaeffer retired as fire chief of the Spokane (Washington) Fire Department in 2024. His professional life has spanned over 30 years, serving in fire departments in the Midwest and Northwest. Schaeffer serves on numerous local, state and national public safety and health-related committees. In addition, he frequently lectures on innovation, leadership and contemporary urban issues such as the unhoused, social determinants of health, and multicultural communities.