Derek Funyak
Founder & Lead Instructor
About the Instructor
Derek Funyak
Founder of Beyond the Badge Leadership · Creator of Trust to Lead™
A career fire service leader who built Beyond the Badge Leadership from mistakes, wins, and conversations with officers across the country.
Why I Created Beyond the Badge Leadership
In Derek's words.
These courses exist because I've made many of the mistakes they discuss.
Over time, I realized that leadership is not measured by how much you personally accomplish.
It is measured by what happens when you're not there.
Beyond the Badge Leadership is the curriculum I wish I had earlier in my career.
"If I want it done right, I need to do it myself."
The true measure of leadership is how many leaders exist because of you.
- Do people continue moving forward?
- Do future leaders emerge?
- Can the organization function without constant oversight?
Leadership Experience
A career built one rank at a time.
- 1
Firefighter
Learned the craft on the line. The work that earns the badge.
- 2
Lieutenant
First taste of leading peers — and the weight of small decisions.
- 3
Captain
Crew accountability, culture, and the cost of micromanagement.
- 4
Assistant Chief
Cross-shift standards, officer development, and trust at scale.
- 5
Deputy Chief
Organizational leadership — building systems that outlast the seat.
Built on Trust
Trust is the operational foundation of every effective crew.
Forged in the Fire Service
Every lesson is shaped by real shifts, real officers, and real decisions.
Designed to Multiply
The goal is the leaders who emerge because you intentionally developed them.
Continue Your Leadership Journey
Develop leaders beyond rank.
Step into the flagship program or explore the full curriculum from Beyond the Badge Leadership.