B. Chris Brewster

Former President, United States Lifesaving Association: USLA is America's nonprofit, professional association of beach lifeguards and open water rescuers. USLA works to reduce the incidence of death and injury in the aquatic environment through public education, national lifeguard standards, training programs, promotion of high levels of lifeguard readiness, and other means. USLA provides the Lifeguard Agency Certification Program, Aquatic Agency Response Team program, www.usla.org website, and conducts the annual USLA National Lifeguard Championships. USLA is the USA's Full Member to the International Life Saving Federation. (November 2003 – present)  

President of the Americas Region and Vice-President, International Life Saving Federation: ILS is the world's international organization of lifesavers, promoting world water safety through a wide variety of initiatives. ILS promotes drowning prevention efforts, sets international lifesaving standards, conducts the biennial World Lifesaving Championships, and hosts lifesaving conferences. The President of the Americas Region oversees ILS activities throughout the Western Hemisphere (including North, Central, South America, the Caribbean, and Hawaii). (1995 – present)  

Lifeguard Chief (retired), San Diego Lifeguard Service and (concurrently) Harbormaster, Mission Bay. Employees: 240 approximately. Annual budget: $10 million. Agency responsibilities include water rescue of swimmers, marine firefighting, law enforcement via citation and arrest, coastal cliff rescue, swiftwater rescue (flood rescue), ocean rescue of boaters up to three miles offshore, staffing of a 24-hour dispatch center with full 9-1-1 capabilities, and public safety education programs. Responsibilities included participating in citywide labor negotiations, membership on the City Labor Advisory Committee, drafting five state legislative bills involving lifeguard and boating safety related issues ultimately enacted into California law — including the California Boating Safety Act of 1999 — and presiding over a biennial citizen committee to help develop boating safety and water use policies. January 1988 – September 2001 (Lifeguard Lieutenant 1986 – 1988; Lifeguard Sergeant 1985 – 1986; Lifeguard 1979 – 1985).