Drew Moldenhauer

Blue Ethos Specialized Training Owner

Expert on

  • Communications
  • Crisis Management
  • Leadership
  • Teamwork
  • Negotiation /De-escalation Skills

Fee Range

$5,000–$7,500

Travels from

MN, US

Biography

Drew Moldenhauer is the visionary behind Blue Ethos Specialized Training, where he serves as the Owner and Master Instructor. With a strong focus on empowering individuals and organizations, Drew offers comprehensive training that goes beyond technical skills, highlighting the critical importance of preparedness, de-escalation, and community engagement. His extensive background in public safety leadership, coupled with years of practical experience, makes him a sought-after expert in the field of active threat preparedness and high-stakes teamwork.

Drew is a full-time Professor of Criminal Justice at Metropolitan State University, where he brings academic depth and practical application together in the classroom. He holds a Master of Science in Public Safety Executive Leadership from St. Cloud State University. As a published author, Drew co-authored the book How Smart Police Officers Use Situational Awareness to Improve Safety with Dr. Richard Gasaway, providing valuable insights on improving safety through awareness and decision-making. His thought leadership also extends to major platforms like Police1 and Officer.com, where his articles reach a wide audience.

As a respected international speaker, Drew has delivered impactful presentations at high-profile conferences, offering expert guidance on topics like de-escalation, active threat preparedness, and high-stakes teamwork. Known for blending practical experience with academic rigor, he engages audiences through interactive discussions and real-world examples, ensuring that professionals at all levels leave with actionable strategies.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Drew is a big advocate for mental and physical health. He lives this out daily as an IRONMAN triathlete, embodying the discipline, resilience, and determination he teaches others to apply in both professional and personal high-stakes environments.

Speaker Videos

High Stakes Team-Work

In high-stakes situations, teamwork isn’t just about coordination; it’s about communication, trust, and the crucial skill of de-escalation. In my keynote, ‘High Stakes Teamwork: Emphasizing De-escalation,’ we’ll explore how to build cohesive teams that can navigate intense situations, learn how to professionally defuse yourself and others around you, and learn the proper way to use good de-escalation tactics by weathering the storm. This speech will uncover strategies to turn chaos into calm, ensuring safety and success for everyone involved. Remember you’re only as strong as your weakest link.

Situational Awareness

Explore how organizations can enhance safety by teaching workers to develop and maintain situational awareness in high-stress, high-consequence, and time-compressed environments. Drew will also discuss how companies can identify opportunities to improve high-risk decision-making and implement strategies to strengthen workers’ critical thinking and resilient problem-solving skills. As a result, organizations often report that their teams are better equipped to stay aware and make smarter, safer decisions during periods of heightened vulnerability.

Active Threat Preparedness

This speaking session will provide public and private entities with active threat preparedness training. The focus will be on improving safety and security, preparing to handle external or internal threats, and teaching rapid response techniques using situational awareness. Basic and easy-to-remember skills will be taught on how to increase your chances of surviving an encounter. Through case studies, the learner will be able to learn from past events on what has worked and was has not worked. These tools will empower employees to feel safe at their workplace.

De-Escalation

In this speaking session, attendees will learn practical strategies to de-escalate situations when someone becomes irritable or irrational. Drew Moldenhauer, drawing from 17 years of law enforcement experience, will teach participants how to avoid trigger words that can escalate tensions and instead guide someone towards calming their irrational behavior. A key focus of the session will be the importance of self-de-escalation—learning to control your own emotions before attempting to calm others. Drew will also share his patented B-R-E-A-T-H-E technique, a proven method for regaining control in high-pressure situations.