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Phan Ngo
Phan Ngo
00:54

Phan Ngo

Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety

Sunnyvale, CA USA

"It’s not a destination, it’s a journey. If you’re curious and you want to continue to learn and grow, then you’re going to be successful at whatever you want to do."

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Phan's work combines: Government, Law, and Helping People

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Day In The Life

Chief

I lead one of the oldest fully integrated police, fire, and emergency medical services in the United States.

02:55

Day In The Life Of A Public Safety Department Chief

Skills & Education

Advice for getting started

While going to school for criminal justice, we were discussing the barriers that Vietnamese-Americans might face when considering becoming police officers. I was taken aback by some of the things the other students were saying. I took it as a challenge and decided to apply to the San Jose Police Department. I proceeded to build a 26-year career with the department.

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Criminal Justice Administration

    San Jose State University

  • Graduate Degree

    Criminal Justice

    Boston University

  • Certification

    Leadership and Character in Uncertain Times

    Harvard Kennedy School

  • Certification

    Negotiation Strategies: Building Agreement Across Boundaries Program

    Harvard Kennedy School

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life has been direct

  • 1.

    I was born in Vietnam and fled with my family to the United States when I was eight years old.

  • 2.

    I earned my bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from San Jose State University.

  • 3.

    While in college, I was taken aback by the reasons my peers thought Vietnamese-Americans wouldn’t make good police officers.

  • 4.

    I took that as a challenge and applied to the San Jose Police Department.

  • 5.

    I then built a 26-year career with the police department, starting as a police officer and working my way up to deputy chief of police.

  • 6.

    I now work as the director of public safety for the Sunnyvale Department of public safety, where I oversee our officers performing police, fire, and emergency medical services.

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    Messages from Peers:

    Vietnamese-Americans don't communicate well and don't have good command presence, so they don't become police officers.

  • How I responded:

    While going to school for criminal justice, we were discussing the barriers that Vietnamese-Americans might face when considering becoming police officers. I was taken aback by some of the things the other students were saying. I took it as a challenge and decided to apply to the San Jose Police Department. I proceeded to build a 26-year career with the department.