From Public Safety to Judicial Accountability

Bryan Lockerby Continues a Career of Service

Just as Bryan Lockerby was preparing to retire from Montana state service, an unexpected phone call gave him a new opportunity to serve.

Montana Supreme Court Chief Justice Cory Swanson appointed Bryan to a four-year term on the newly established Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission. Created by Montana lawmakers in 2025, the commission is being built from the ground up to evaluate the performance of the state’s judges.

The appointment and Bryan’s next chapter were recently featured by the Center for Homeland Defense and Security.

For those of us at Clear Career Professionals, the appointment is no surprise. Bryan works from our Montana office, bringing more than four decades of public-service leadership, executive experience, and sound judgment to every organization and leader he supports.

Helping Build Something New

Establishing a new statewide commission presents an unusual leadership challenge. Its members must help create credible evaluation processes, determine how performance should be measured, and build public confidence in the commission’s work.

It is precisely the kind of complex assignment Bryan has spent his career preparing to undertake.

During more than 40 years in public service, Bryan advanced through every level of the Great Falls Police Department before becoming the Administrator of the Montana Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation. He led high-risk operations, managed complex statewide responsibilities, oversaw multimillion-dollar budgets, and worked alongside professionals from numerous agencies and jurisdictions.

Bryan later brought that experience into municipal administration as Great Falls’ interim deputy city manager. The position expanded his perspective beyond public safety and reinforced the importance of strong governance, dependable systems, and effective public-service leadership.

Now, as a member of JPEC, Bryan will apply those lessons to a new mission centered on judicial performance and public accountability.

Experience That Continues to Serve Others

Bryan’s JPEC appointment is only one part of his ongoing work.

From Clear Career Professionals’ Montana office, Bryan helps public-sector organizations assess their operations, strengthen organizational culture, develop leaders, and navigate periods of change. His firsthand understanding of government service enables him to offer practical guidance grounded in experience rather than theory alone.

Through Lockerby Leadership Group, Bryan also provides executive advising, organizational assessments, leadership development, professional instruction, and workplace-climate reviews. His work helps organizations establish greater clarity, improve communication, and create cultures in which people can perform at their best.

That work reflects a consistent theme throughout Bryan’s career: leadership is not about holding a title. It is about strengthening people and institutions so they can continue serving effectively long into the future.

Hear More From Bryan on The Clear Voice

Bryan recently joined James Groom and Michael Boese on The Clear Voice for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, law enforcement, rural communities, organizational health, and the lessons he has learned throughout his career.

The episode also reveals some of the personality behind Bryan’s leadership philosophy. Listeners will hear his memorable “shopping cart test,” which demonstrates how everyday decisions can reveal a person’s character when nobody is watching.

Bryan discusses the importance of clarity of purpose, discipline in action, and courage in decision-making. He also shares why strong leaders must give people grace, invest in the next generation, and build systems that can outlast any individual leader.

We are proud to have Bryan representing Clear Career Professionals in Montana and beyond, and we congratulate him on his appointment to the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission. Building a new statewide commission is a substantial responsibility, but Bryan has never been one to shy away from an important mission.

Read the Center for Homeland Defense and Security’s full feature on Bryan, then listen to his recent appearance on The Clear Voice.

Find more information about Bryan on his site: Lockerby Leadership Group.