Formal Media Bio
Josh A. Ball is a senior security executive, retired Police Chief, and leadership speaker known for his expertise in high-stakes environments. With more than 20 years of experience across public safety and professional sports, Josh has led teams through crisis, reform, and major global events.
As Senior Director of Safety and Security for a professional football club, he oversees large-scale operations for NFL, NCAA, concert, and international events, including preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Before joining the NFL, Josh served as Senior Director of Security, Safety, and First Aid at Churchill Downs, protecting hundreds of thousands of guests, including during Kentucky Derby Week.
Earlier in his career, Josh rose through the ranks of law enforcement to become a Police Chief, leading officers through critical incidents and organizational change.
Josh is the creator of Leadership Prepared™, a system that helps leaders anticipate, align, and act with clarity under pressure. His mission is to help people lead with purpose, move with integrity, and prepare before it matters most.
Short Form Bio
Josh A. Ball is a senior security executive, retired Police Chief, and leadership speaker who helps teams perform under pressure. With over two decades of experience in law enforcement, public safety, and the NFL, he’s the creator of Leadership Prepared™, a system that teaches leaders to anticipate challenges, build trust, and act decisively under pressure.
Long Form Bio
Josh A. Ball is a senior security executive, speaker, and advisor who helps leaders perform under pressure. Over a career spanning more than two decades, Josh has led organizations through crisis, transformation, and growth—first as a law enforcement leader and Police Chief, and later as a senior executive in the world of professional sports and major events.
Josh began his career in public safety, where he spent years responding to emergencies, managing complex incidents, and leading officers through periods of operational and cultural change. Rising through the ranks to Chief of Police, he developed a leadership philosophy rooted in service, accountability, and composure. Those experiences became the foundation for his guiding principle: leadership isn’t about rank; it’s about readiness.
Transitioning into the private sector, Josh brought that discipline to large-scale event and organizational security. As Senior Director of Safety and Security for the Kansas City Chiefs, he oversees the protection of GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, leading security, safety, and crisis management operations for NFL games, concerts, and international events—including the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Previously, he served as Senior Director of Security, Safety, and First Aid at Churchill Downs, where he managed complex event security for over 480,000 guests during Kentucky Derby Week, coordinating law enforcement, private security, and emergency services within unified command structures.
Josh’s leadership and programs are aligned with DHS SAFETY Act, NFL Best Practices, ASIS, and NCS⁴ frameworks. His ability to blend operational expertise with human-centered leadership has made him a trusted voice among executives, first responders, and front-line teams alike.
Through his signature system, Leadership Prepared™, Josh teaches leaders to build readiness through Purpose, Planning, Practice, and Presence—a model that transcends industries and applies anywhere people lead under pressure.
A lifelong student of leadership and human performance, Josh continues to serve as a bridge between the public and private sectors—helping leaders prepare for the moments that define them.
Web Bio
Josh A. Ball is a senior security executive, speaker, and leadership strategist who helps leaders and organizations perform under pressure. With more than two decades of experience spanning public safety, law enforcement leadership, and professional sports, Josh brings a rare blend of operational rigor and human-centered leadership to every room he enters.
Before joining the private sector, Josh served in law enforcement for nearly two decades—culminating as a Police Chief. In that role, he learned firsthand that leadership under pressure requires more than authority—it requires preparation, empathy, and integrity. His experience leading officers through crisis, reform, and organizational change shaped his enduring belief: leaders don’t rise to the occasion—they fall to the level of their preparation.
Today, as Senior Director of Safety and Security for the Kansas City Chiefs and GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Josh oversees a comprehensive security and emergency management program spanning NFL, NCAA, concert, and international operations—including preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Previously, Josh served as Senior Director of Security, Safety, and First Aid for Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, where he led multidisciplinary teams protecting more than 480,000 guests during Derby Week. Across both roles, he has built programs that align with NFL Best Practices, DHS SAFETY Act Certification, and NCS⁴ industry standards.
Josh is the creator of Leadership Prepared™, a system that teaches leaders how to build readiness through four disciplines: Purpose, Planning, Practice, and Presence. Through keynotes, workshops, and executive advisory, he helps teams turn preparation into performance—whether in the boardroom, on the field, or in the line of duty.
His mission is simple:
Lead with purpose. Move with integrity. Prepare before it matters most.