Fellows Spotlight
Brent Burgett
(Gilbert, 2020)
Assistant Chief
Mesa Fire & Medical Department
Brent Burgett grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the youngest of three children, shaped by a father who was a combat veteran and volunteer firefighter and a mother whose New Mexico roots instilled in him a strong work ethic. After graduating from the University of New Mexico, he moved to Arizona to pursue a career in fire service, working two jobs while he earned an associate degree in fire science from Scottsdale Community College.
He began his career with Rural/Metro Fire Department in 2001, and three years later, he landed what he calls his dream job with the Mesa Fire and Medical Department. Over the past 22 years, Brent has advanced from firefighter to captain, battalion chief, deputy chief, and now assistant chief. In this role, he oversees Technical Services, Social Services, Public Affairs, Public Education, and Fire Prevention. He has kept building on that foundation ever since, adding an associate degree in paramedicine from Mesa Community College, a master’s degree from Northern Arizona University, and a Certified Public Manager credential from Arizona State University. He lives in Gilbert with his wife of 18 years and their two teenage children.
Public policy runs through nearly every division Brent leads. In Fire Prevention, he works closely with the fire marshal to track state legislative updates and interpret municipal ordinances, integrating modern fire codes into local law and partnering with city planners and private developers to balance economic growth with life safety from the blueprint stage through construction. On the Social Services and Community Health side, he sees directly how shifts in healthcare coverage, Medicaid structures, and funding for unhoused and underserved populations shape who ends up calling 911, often, he says, because 911 has become the default safety net when community healthcare infrastructure falls short. In Technical Services, federal, state, and regional policy governs the systems his department depends on: the radio frequencies, interagency agreements, and dispatch platforms that keep emergency response interoperable across jurisdictions.
“Do you know what my favorite part of the game is? The opportunity to play,” Brent says, quoting former NFL linebacker Mike Singletary. It’s a line he returns to often. For Brent, having the opportunity to serve people when they need help most is a gift, and the quote captures the gratitude he carries into the job every day.
That sense of gratitude extends to the Flinn-Brown Network. Brent points to the annual Flinn-Brown Convention as a highlight each year, a chance to reconnect in person with his cohort and see the professional milestones they’ve reached since he last saw them. Beyond the formal sessions, he says, it’s the trusted peers he can call on for advice on complex challenges that make the Network valuable.
Asked what would strengthen civic health in Arizona, Brent points to the top of the ladder. If elected leaders can restore public trust and demonstrate that involvement and collective participation genuinely matter, he believes Arizonans can work together to make life in the state better, starting with proving there is real value in crossing partisan lines.
Book Recommendation
Each month, we feature suggestions from Fellows to create a virtual library about public-policy issues, the practice of leadership, professional development, and other areas worth sharing. This month’s recommendation comes from Brent Burgett (Gilbert, 2020).
I recommend Tribe by Sebastian Junger. This book is about understanding the value in human connection. It dissects why and how people come together after tragedy and how we live in a world that is not generally well connected.
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