B. Chris Brewster serves as president of the United States Lifesaving Association and president for the Americas Region of the International Life Saving Federation. He is the former lifeguard chief and harbormaster of the city of San Diego, with 22 years of service as a professional ocean lifeguard. Brewster is one of 25 life members of USLA and a life member of the California Surf Lifesaving Association.
Brewster is editor of Open Water Lifesaving, The United States Lifesaving Association Manual (2003), Guidelines for Open Water Lifeguard Training and Standards (1993), and Guidelines for Training and Standards of Aquatic Rescue Response Teams (1996). He is a contributor to Lifeguard Effectiveness – A Report of a Working Group, issued by the CDC (2001).
Brewster lectures on lifesaving matters internationally. He has been interviewed, quoted, or referenced in a wide variety of media, both nationally and internationally. He has a Bachelor of Science in journalism from the University of Colorado and has been an emergency medical technician for more than 20 years.