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Seen on NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, KING 5, FOX 13 Seattle. Author of Black in Blue, HarperCollins Leadership. Former Chief of Police, Seattle.

Carmen Best

Carmen Best press kitEverything a producer, programmer or editor needs, on one page.

Bios in three lengths, headshots you can download, her topics and talks, clips, honors, and the person to call. Media and booking: Rachael Barclay, The Savvy Digital Co., rachael@thesavvydigitalco.com.

Media requestOne-sheet PDF

Facts

Name
Carmen Best
Now
Keynote speaker, law enforcement analyst, associate consultant with 21CP Solutions
Former
Chief of Police, Seattle Police Department (interim Jan 1, 2018; confirmed Aug 13, 2018; resigned Aug 10, 2020, effective Sept 2, 2020)
Department
Joined 1992. 28 years. Every rank, officer to Chief. Managed a department of 2,000.
After
Director of Global Security Risk Operations, Microsoft, from 2022 (since left)
Book
Black in Blue: Lessons on Leadership, Breaking Barriers, and Racial Reconciliation. HarperCollins Leadership, 2021. ISBN 9781400230617.
On air
NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, KING 5, FOX 13 Seattle
Education
M.S., Criminal Justice, Northeastern University, 2018; Bachelor's degree, Western Illinois University, 2014
Travels from
Washington State
Represented by
Leading Authorities (exclusive for lectures); Washington Speakers Bureau

Bios

Use as written. Do not shorten the medium bio into claims it does not make.

Short (50 words)

Carmen Best is a keynote speaker, law enforcement analyst and an associate consultant with 21CP Solutions. She is the former Chief of Police of Seattle, the first Black woman to lead the department, and the author of Black in Blue (HarperCollins Leadership, 2021). A 28-year veteran of the department, she has appeared on NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC and KING 5.

Medium (120 words)

Carmen Best joined the Seattle Police Department in 1992 and rose through every rank to become its Chief in 2018, the first Black woman to hold the job. In August 2020 she resigned rather than carry out budget cuts that, under seniority rules, would have fallen on the 108 officers she hired in 2019, about 40% of them people of color. She is the author of Black in Blue (HarperCollins Leadership, 2021), has been a law enforcement analyst for KING 5 and a contributor on MSNBC, has appeared on NBC News and CNBC, and was Microsoft’s Director of Global Security Risk Operations, a role she took in 2022 and has since left. Today she is an associate consultant with 21CP Solutions, a law enforcement analyst, and a keynote speaker on leading when everyone is watching. Her honors include the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and the National Law Enforcement Ethics Award.

Board bio

Carmen Best spent 28 years in the Seattle Police Department, the last two years and eight months as Chief of Police, and led the department through 2020. She has served on boards and advisory councils including the UNCF Leadership Council (past Chair, Seattle), United Way of King County, YWCA King County, the St. Jude Advisory Council in Seattle, the Seattle University Criminal Justice Advisory Committee and the IACP Human and Civil Rights Committee. After the department she was Microsoft’s Director of Global Security Risk Operations, leading global efforts to detect, assess and respond to physical security threats; today she is an associate consultant with 21CP Solutions and a member of the International Women’s Forum. She holds an M.S. in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University and is open to board, advisory and senior operating roles in public safety, security and workforce.

Topics

  • Policing, public safety, and what reform looks like from the chief’s chair
  • Leadership and accountability in public institutions
  • Crisis leadership and rebuilding public trust
  • Corporate and global security risk operations
  • Recruiting and keeping a diverse workforce, and what undoes it
  • Women in command roles, and knowing when to walk away

In her words, on the record: “The best might only be 80%, but that’s what we’re going to go with, because that’s what we’ve got.” (You’re Allowed*, May 2026)

Talks

  • Leading Through Crisis: Building Trust in Uncertain Times

    For executive teams, boards, public agencies

  • The Future of Security: Protecting People and Organizations in a Global Landscape

    For corporate security, risk, operations, technology

  • Leading Change Management in a Technology-Driven Era: Staying in the Game

    For leadership programs, associations, hr and talent

  • Black in Blue: Lessons on Leadership, Breaking Barriers, and Racial Reconciliation

    For universities, civic forums, black history month, women in leadership

  • Light Beyond the Storm: Choosing Hope and Positivity in Difficult Times

    For conferences, women’s events, community organizations

  • Resilience and Well-Being: Building Mental Fitness in a Digital Era

    For corporate wellness, remote and hybrid teams

Stages include FedEx, MoPOP, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, NOBLE, NABA, Seafair.

Honors and boards

Honors

  • Washington State African American Achievement Award, Surviving Change, Shining Super Stars, April 25, 2026
  • Ellis Island Medal of Honor, Ellis Island Honors Society
  • National Law Enforcement Ethics Award
  • Woman of the Year, National Police Defense Foundation

Boards and advisory

  • UNCF (Leadership Council. Past Chair, Seattle Leadership Council)
  • United Way of King County (Board)
  • YWCA King County (Board)
  • St. Jude Advisory Council, Seattle (Member)
  • Seattle University (Criminal Justice Advisory Committee)
  • IACP (Human and Civil Rights Committee)
  • International Women’s Forum (member)

Media and booking contact

Rachael Barclay

Media and booking for Carmen Best · The Savvy Digital Co.

rachael@thesavvydigitalco.com

Deadline requests get a call back within the hour, business hours Pacific. Lecture bookings route through Leading Authorities. Facts on this page are sourced at https://carmenbest.com/llms.txt.