Federal Way Public Schools Alumni of Note
Chris Brown
Corporate Safety Director
Decatur High School
Graduate, Class of 1975
Chris Brown learned the value of good citizenship as a seventh-grade homeroom representative. Ever since then, the 1975 Decatur High School grad has found it his calling to get involved with various organizations around Federal Way in an effort to improve the community. "When people call, I'm there," he said.
Brown attended Lakeland and Panther Lake elementary schools, Kilo Middle School and Decatur High School. After high school, he briefly attended Western Washington University. These days, Brown works as the corporate safety director for Lloyd Enterprises in Federal Way. He holds a number of professional certifications including a director of safety for the United States Department of Transportation and a health and safety trainer for the United States Department of Labor, Mine and Safety Health Administration.
Brown's current civic involvements include serving on the Board of Trustees for the Federal Way Senior Center and the Board of Directors for the Federal Way Diversity Commission. He is also a current board member of the Community Garden project at the Federal Way Senior Center and president of the Evergreen Military Vehicle Collectors Club.
As a member of the 2003 Federal Way Chamber of Commerce Advancing Leadership class, Brown helped to build a rain shelter at the Federal Way Multi-Service Center. He ran for commissioner of the Lakehaven Utility District and was a candidate for a seat on the Federal Way Public Schools Board of Education. He is also a past member of the vocational education advisory committee for Federal Way Public Schools.
Being involved with student government helped start a pattern of civic engagement that would follow Brown throughout his adult life, he said. He recalls Mr. Olson and Mr. Deitrich as being among his most influential staff members at Decatur. "Mr. Deitrich was a great leader," Brown said.
Brown suggests that current students start volunteering at the Multi-Service Center. "Get involved, stay in school and it's more about somebody other than yourself," he said. "The moment you start thinking about somebody else and getting involved it's habit forming."