Karrie D. Howard

About Karrie D. Howard

I build systems that protect people, organizations, and the public, all at the same time.For more than two decades I’ve operated at the intersection of law, public safety, governance, and military service. I’ve led one of Ohio’s largest public safety enterprises, prosecuted complex federal cases as an AUSA, and advised commanders as a Major in the Air Force JAG Corps. Across every role, my focus has been the same: turn policy into disciplined practice that reduces risk while preserving trust.As CEO of Greenbridge Consulting LLC, I partner with municipalities, universities, hospitals, and mission-driven organizations to: • Modernize policies, SOPs, and governance frameworks • Strengthen compliance, investigations, and accountability structures • Improve recruitment, wellness, and retention in high-stress environments • Align leadership decisions with constitutional, regulatory, and community expectationsPreviously, as Chief Executive of Public Safety for the City of Cleveland, I led the city’s Police, Fire, EMS, Corrections, and Animal Care & Control divisions totaling over employees and a budget approaching $500M. Working with labor, elected officials, and community stakeholders, I drove reforms in use of force, data-driven deployment, hiring and discipline, and public communication.My background includes service as: • Assistant United States Attorney (DOJ) handling complex federal investigations and litigation • Chief Prosecutor and Assistant Prosecutor at the city and county levels • U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant and now Air Force Reserve Staff Judge Advocate Officer leading legal, ethics, and operational law functionsCore strengths: governance and policy design, enterprise risk management, investigations and compliance, crisis and change leadership, labor relations, and executive decision support.If you’re a CEO, city leader, board, or institution navigating high-stakes risk, public scrutiny, or modernizing a legacy system, let’s talk. I help leadership teams see the full risk picture, choose the right levers, and implement changes that last.

Experience

1. Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, 445th Airlift Wing Staff Judge Advocate, 911th & 910th Airlift Wings

   U.S. Air Force Reserve

   Jan 2010 — Present · US

   Serve as deputy senior legal advisor for the 445th Airlift Wing and chief legal officer (SJA) for the 911th and 910th Airlift Wings, overseeing legal risk across operations, procurement, investigations, and compliance for three wings and Airmen. • Review and approve $300M+ annually in contracts for weapons systems, IT, construction, and services, ensuring FAR/DFARS compliance and protecting the government from bid protests, unauthorized commitments, and procurement errors. • Lead Command Directed Investigations into alleged misconduct, ethical violations, and regulatory breaches, producing findings and recommendations that have strengthened accountability frameworks and improved mission readiness metrics across all three wings. • Advise wing and group commanders on Law of Armed Conflict, rules of engagement, and operational law during exercises and real-world taskings, balancing mission objectives with legal, ethical, and strategic considerations. • Mentor and supervise JAG officers, paralegals, and enlisted legal personnel, building high-performing teams that consistently receive “excellent” or higher ratings during inspections and command evaluations.

Education

• REAP (Real Estate Associate Program)

  Certificate, Commercial Real Estte

  2012 — 2012

• DeVry University

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Business Administration

  1998 — 2002

• Chaney High School

  H.S., Diploma

  1994 — 1998

• Cleveland State University

  J.D., Law

  2004 — 2007

• University of Maryland Global Campus

  Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Human Resources Management and Services

  2012 — 2014

Skills

• Policy
• Lexisnexis
• Public Speaking
• Legal Research
• Legal Advice
• Appeals
• Civil Litigation
• Westlaw
• Legal Assistance
• Criminal Law
• Criminal Investigations
• Government
• Research
• Public Policy
• Administrative Law
• Arbitration
• Legal Writing
• Litigation
• Legal Issues
• Trial Practice
• Training
• Hearings
• Criminal Justice
• Criminal Defense
• Microsoft Office
• Mediation
• Courts