Alumni profile: Brian Steel, president of Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge #9

Columbus, Ohio, native Brian Steel, MPA ’20, has spent more than two decades in public safety and public service.

A lieutenant with the Columbus Division of Police, Steel was recently elected as the chairman of the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund,  which serves 60,000 members across Central Ohio. Steel reflected on his path to public leadership, why he chose the MPA program and how the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service helped sharpen the skills he uses every day.

OU, Oh Yeah

I graduated from the Voinovich School in 2020. Before that, I spent my career in public safety. I am a Columbus Division of Police lieutenant and have been involved with the Fraternal Order of Police for more than a decade. Today, I am the president of Capital City Lodge No. 9 and a lobbyist for the State FOP, where I advocate for law enforcement officers and their families.

I also serve as vice chairman of the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund, and next month I will become chairman. We manage a $20 billion portfolio and serve about 60,000 members, so understanding public finance and governance is a major part of my work. I am also a Marine Corps veteran and a husband and father of five. My family and my faith guide everything I do.

All in

Before applying to graduate school, I explored a lot of options. I looked at Fisher, Ashland, and several online programs, and I considered an MBA. But when I learned about the MPA at Ohio University, it immediately felt like the right fit. I attended an open house and met the faculty, staff, and some of the students who would later become lifelong friends. I knew right away that this was the program for me.

I had been out of the classroom for a while, and I wondered if I could balance graduate school with a full-time job, union leadership, and a big family. The faculty made it clear that I would be supported every step of the way. My cohort leaned on each other, and the learning environment made it possible to succeed even with a lot on my plate.

Real world experience

I chose the MPA instead of an MBA because I wanted to be a good steward of public resources. As a union president and a pension fund trustee, I manage dues, investments, and policies that directly affect thousands of public safety professionals. I needed an education that focused on public value and public process.

The MPA taught me how government systems work, how budgets are designed, and how to apply leadership in real time. My law enforcement background, my work ethic, and the values passed down from my Scottish grandparents gave me the foundation. The MPA sharpened it. It was the final step in what I like to think of as forging a sword. Every part of my life shaped the steel, but the MPA refined the edge.

I use what I learned every day. Whether it is making decisions for a multimillion-dollar organization or leading officers through high-pressure situations, I rely on the processes and principles I learned at the Voinovich School. It helped me think strategically, communicate clearly, and drive positive reform.

What’s next

My focus is on serving officers and their families and strengthening the institutions that support public safety in Ohio. As president of the largest FOP lodge in the state and one of the largest in the country, I run an organization with a budget of about $3 million and a membership of 4,700. I treat our members’ money the same way I would treat public funds. You have to make wise investments, plan ahead, and lead with integrity.

The MPA gave me the tools to do that. It helped me become a better leader and a more effective public servant. I plan to continue using what I learned to improve the organizations I work with and to leave them stronger for the next generation.

A word of advice

If you are thinking about pursuing an MPA, my advice is simple: do it. You might doubt yourself or wonder if you can balance it with your life, but you will not regret it. If you want a program that teaches real-world skills and exposes you to true leaders, the Voinovich School is the place.

For anyone in public service, especially those well into their career, the MPA gives you a fresh perspective and the ability to adapt. Some of the most successful people are the ones who remain resilient when things change. If you show up, ask questions, work hard, and lean on your cohort, you will leave the program ready to lead.