Decision-Making Under Pressure

Miller School’s Campus Safety Coordinator, Ret. Lt. Marc Brake, was recently invited to speak at the James Madison University College of Business, where he addressed MBA students enrolled in the Master Class “Reflective Leader,” taught by Assistant Professor Dr. Sara Bianco.

The February 10 session focused on leadership and decision-making under stress, a subject Brake knows firsthand from his 26-year career with the Charlottesville Police Department.

Brake structured his lecture around Dual Process Theory, a framework that explains how individuals make decisions under pressure. System 1 thinking is fast and instinctive. System 2 thinking is deliberate and analytical. Under stress, the brain naturally shifts toward instinctive responses. Brake explained how effective training builds a strong System 2 foundation so that even split-second decisions are informed by preparation and disciplined thinking.

Drawing from his experience as a narcotics detective, patrol lieutenant, crisis negotiation team commander, and later Administrative Lieutenant in the Professional Standards Division, Brake provided real-world examples of high-risk operations that required careful planning and rapid adjustment. Operational plans and risk matrices offered structure, but unexpected variables demanded adaptability and leadership in the moment.

Currently serving as Miller School’s Campus Safety Coordinator, Brake applies those same principles on the Hill. He provides a visible presence across the school’s 1,100-acre campus, collaborates with administrators on risk mitigation, develops crisis management policies, and delivers training to faculty and staff to strengthen campus-wide preparedness.

His invitation to speak at one of Virginia’s leading universities reflects the depth of experience he brings to Miller School. For the MBA students at JMU, Brake’s message was direct: leadership under pressure is not accidental. It is built through preparation, clarity of thought, and disciplined response.