Bryan Strawser

Principal & Chief Executive

Bryan helps organizations turn uncertainty into advantage—building
resilience and unlocking opportunity when the stakes are highest.

About Bryan

Bryan Strawser is the Founder, Principal, and Chief Executive of Bryghtpath LLC, the strategic advisory firm he launched in 2014 to help the world’s leading brands and institutions confidently navigate disruption and uncertainty.

With more than 30 years of global experience, Bryan is a recognized authority in crisis management, business continuity, IT disaster recovery, and organizational resilience.

He is trusted by Fortune 100 companies, public sector agencies, and nonprofits for his ability to align resilience strategies with business priorities—protecting lives, reputations, and operations at scale.

Before founding Bryghtpath, Bryan held senior leadership roles at Target Corporation, where he built and led the company’s global crisis management, business continuity, and intelligence programs. He also served as Chief Security Officer & Senior Director of Global Security at the University of Phoenix, overseeing enterprise risk and global security for one of the largest educational institutions in the United States.

Bryan has contributed to the advancement of industry standards through roles with the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS), including work on the Workplace Violence Prevention and Active Assailant – Prevention, Intervention, and Response Standard (2020) and the Certified Protection Professional (CPP) Study Manual.

He is also the co-author of two foundational resilience works:

Bryan has held national leadership roles in public-private collaboration, including as Chair of the Private Sector Committee for the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) and Vice Chairman of the Disaster Recovery and Preparedness Committee for the Retail Industry Leaders Association. In these roles, he partnered with FEMA, DHS, and White House officials to design the Private Sector Representative role at FEMA and to build enduring bridges between government and private enterprise.

He was named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2019 and elected as a Member of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) in 2016.

Bryan holds multiple business continuity, emergency management, and information security certifications, including the MBCP, MBCI, CISSP, and MnCEM. He continues to serve as a coach, strategist, and trusted advisor to resilience leaders worldwide.

Education

Hamline University – School of Business
Doctor of Philosophy, Management and Public Service (expected 2028)

King’s College, London – Department of War Studies
Master of Arts, International Relations & Contemporary War (with distinction)
Associateship of King’s College, AKC

University of Minnesota – Carlson School of Management
Master of Business Administration (MBA)

University of Phoenix
Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice Administration

Harvard University
National Preparedness Leadership Initiative – Executive Program

School of EMS
Paramedic Certificate

Professional Certifications

Business Continuity Institute
Member, Business Continuity Institute (MBCI)

Disaster Recovery Institute International
Master Business Continuity Professional (MBCP)
Certified Business Continuity Vendor (CBCV)

Federal Emergency Management Agency
FEMA Professional Continuity Practitioner

(ISC)²
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
Nationally Registered Paramedic (NRP)

State of Minnesota – Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HSEM)
Minnesota State Certified Emergency Manager

Past Experience

King’s College, London
Editor in Chief, Strife
Managing Editor, Strife Blog
Member, Academic Board
Academic Representative, War Studies Postgraduates

Auburn University – Center for Cyber and Homeland Security
Senior Fellow

University of Minnesota – Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Humphrey Policy Fellow
Humphrey Policy Fellow – Advisory Board Member

University of Phoenix – Apollo Education Group
Chief Security Officer & Senior Director, Global Security

University of Minnesota – Carlson School of Management
Executive MBA Program – Advisory Board Member

National Emergency Management Association (NEMA)
Private Sector Committee Chair & Board Member

Target Corporation
Senior Director, Global Crisis Management, Business Continuity, & Intelligence