Captain Larry Brudnicki: Crisis Leadership
Crisis leadership keynote speaker Captain Larry Brudnicki, former U.S. Coast Guard commander during the Perfect Storm rescues, teaches risk management, decision-making, and teamwork under pressure.
- Highlights:
- Retired U.S. Coast Guard Captain with 30 years of service
- Led rescue operations during the Perfect Storm
- Supervised 15,000 plus Search and Rescue cases
- Directed major drug interdiction and migrant interdiction missions
- Formats:
Keynote Speaker on Crisis Leadership, Risk Management, and Team Performance
- Audiences:
Corporate leaders, government agencies, first responders, military organizations, safety professionals, and companies operating in high-risk environments.
- Outcomes:
- Improved decision-making under pressure
- Stronger teamwork in crisis situations
- Practical risk management strategies for uncertain environments
- Travels from: Concord, NH
- **Fee range: On Request
Keynote Topics
The Perfect Storm - Courage Under Pressure
A powerful and inspirational keynote that strikes a perfect balance between the exciting adventure of a legendary rescue mission on the high seas and practical examples of the courage, leadership and teamwork that every organization needs to succeed in a highly competitive business environment.
Audiences will feel like they are right alongside Captain Brudnicki as he relives the dramatic story of two daring rescue missions during the worst weather in more than one hundred years, and they will they gain insight into how to succeed in a situation they can’t control and confidently take action when they don’t like their options.
The Perfect Storm - 7 Steps to Making the Right Decision Every Time
This keynote provides the perfect balance between inspiration and a versatile process that the audience can immediately use make difficult decisions when they don’t like their options.
It combines the exciting adventure of a legendary rescue mission on the high seas with practical examples of the courage, leadership and teamwork that every organization needs to succeed in a highly competitive business environment, and it also includes the 7 Steps to Making The Right Decision Every Time.
You can’t eliminate risk if you want to achieve a worthwhile goal, but you can manage it to increase your chance of success.
Talent Short Bio
Captain Larry Brudnicki is a retired U.S. Coast Guard officer and crisis leadership keynote speaker best known as the commanding officer involved in dramatic rescue operations during the Perfect Storm. While those high-profile rescues captured national attention, they represent just a fraction of a distinguished 30-year career defined by risk assessment, decisive action, and mission-driven teamwork.
Before retiring in 2002, Captain Brudnicki served as Chief of Operations for the 11th Coast Guard District in Alameda, California. In that role, he supervised more than 15,000 search and rescue cases, saving over 1,600 lives and protecting property valued at $135 million. He also directed major interdiction operations that seized more than 150 tons of cocaine and oversaw missions that intercepted thousands of illegal migrants.
A graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy with a degree in Engineering, Captain Brudnicki began leading early in his career. At just 23 years old, he served as Commanding Officer of the USCGC CAPE CURRENT, contributing to early counter-drug operations. He later earned a Master’s degree in Physical Science from Wesleyan University and served as a Physics Instructor at the Coast Guard Academy.
Read Full Bio
Captain Larry Brudnicki experience as the real-life Captain of the Coast Guard ship that performed two dramatic rescues during the Perfect Storm amount to only 100 hours of a 30-year career of assessing risks, making decisions and inspiring teamwork.
Captain Larry Brudnicki retired from the Coast Guard in March 2002 after 30 years of active duty. He reported to his last assignment as the Chief of Operations, 11th Coast Guard District, Alameda, CA in August 1997 where he supervised more than 15,000 Search & Rescue cases, which saved 1,600 lives and property valued at $135 million.
He also supervised the search for survivors of the Alaska Air Flight #261 tragedy. He had tactical control of ships and aircraft that seized more than 150 tons of cocaine, including the ten largest cocaine seizures in the year 2000 and again in 2001.
Captain Brudnicki also had tactical control of the ships and aircraft that interdicted 2,800 illegal migrants from the People’s Republic of China, Ecuador and Mexico.
Captain Larry Brudnicki graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1972, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering. His first assignment was on board the USCGC MADRONA (WLB-302), Portsmouth, VA where he served as Communications Officer and then as Operations Officer.
At the age of 23, he was assigned as Commanding Officer of the USCGC CAPE CURRENT (WPB-95307), Savannah, GA from 1973 to 1975. During that period, under the direction of Coast Guard Group Charleston, CAPE CURRENT was one of the pioneers that helped the Coast Guard begin a long and proud history in counter drug operations.
Captain Larry Brudnicki attended Wesleyan University where he earned a Master’s Degree in Physical Science to prepare him for an assignment as a Physics Instructor at the US Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT.
While assigned to the Academy he also served as a Gymnastics Coach, Yacht Squadron Coach and a member of the Faculty Senate.
He served as the Executive Officer of the USCGC MARIPOSA (WLB-397), Detroit, MI, from June 1980 until August 1982 and participated in the 9th Coast Guard District’s early efforts to have the Buoy Tenders rehabilitate the Light Houses that were no longer manned.
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