EPISODE 038: ROBERT PETERSON | UNDERSHERIFF (RET.)

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My special guest is Robert Peterson.

Robert Peterson, a retired law enforcement professional with 33 years of service at the Orange County Sheriff's Department in California, is a seasoned expert in leadership, holding a Bachelor's degree from the University of Oklahoma and an executive leadership certificate from Harvard University. Throughout his distinguished career, Robert has assumed various pivotal roles, including SWAT, academy drill sergeant, and commander of the Special Enforcement Bureau, overseeing critical operations such as the bomb squad and hostage negotiation team. His journey from a civilian employee to the helm of the 6th largest sheriff's department in the United States underscores his commitment to ethical leadership. With a strong emphasis on education, Robert's role as an adjunct professor at Brandman University and associate instructor at Santa Ana College reflects his dedication to imparting leadership principles and expertise in criminal law. His extensive experience and profound insights position him as an exemplary guest for discussions centered around courage, ethics, and effective decision-making in leadership.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:00 - The Crucible of Adversity
00:02:17 - From Homelessness to Leadership
00:09:24 - Mentorship and Leadership Impact
00:12:20 - Career Progression and Leadership Development
00:15:22 - Homeland Security and Proactive Leadership
00:17:51 - Understanding Threat Levels for Homeland Security
00:20:40 - The Current State of Leadership
00:23:04 - Challenges for the Next Generation of Leaders
00:28:27 - Making a Difference in Life Journey
00:34:35 - Impact of Mentors in Leadership

Bio: Bob Peterson retired from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department after 33 years of service. He started his career as a civilian employee working in the basement of the Central Men’s Jail washing inmates ‘clothing. He graduated from the Sheriff’s Academy in 1989 and was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2002. In 2009, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and was assigned to the Central Jail Complex. He would later become the bureau commander of the Central Jails Division. During his tenure as a lieutenant, he also worked in a variety of positions including the SAFE, and Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) Commander overseeing SWAT, Hazardous Devices Squad (Bomb Squad), Air Support Unit, and Hostage Negotiations Team. In 2012, Bob was promoted to the rank of captain and was tasked with creating the department’s Community Programs and Services Division. Two years later, he transferred to the Training Division where he oversaw the department’s training programs.

In 2016, Bob was promoted to the rank of commander and became a member of the Sheriff’s Executive Team, responsible for overseeing the Professional Services Command. During this same year he decided to run for United States House of Representative in the 46th Congressional District. In 2017, he was promoted to the rank of assistant sheriff and oversaw Custody Operations.

In 2018, Bob transferred to the department’s Field Operations and Investigations Command where he is responsible for Homeland Security, Investigations, North, Southeast, and Southwest Operations, Coroner, Crime Lab, Emergency Management, Airport Operations, and the Reserve Bureau.

In 2019, he was promoted to Undersheriff where he was responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, the 6th largest sheriff’s Department in the United States.

Bob retired from the Sheriff’s Department on January 5, 2021.

Bob has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Oklahoma. He also holds an Executive Leadership Certificate from Harvard University. He is a graduate of the F.B.I. National Academy, West Point Leadership Program, Notre Dame – Executive Integral Leadership Program, and the Senior Management Institute for Police.

He is an adjunct professor for Brandman University where he teaches leadership principles and is an associate instructor for Santa Ana College teaching criminal law. Bob and his wife of 32 years, Kristine moved out of California and built their dream home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina where they currently live.