James Vaughn

Background

About James Vaughn

I’m a people-first safety leader who has spent over two decades helping organizations transform how they think about safety. Whether I’m supporting critical infrastructure, managing high-risk live productions, or safeguarding the magic at Walt Disney World, my approach remains the same: lead with empathy, act with precision, and drive results that are both measurable and meaningful. I build trust at every level—from frontline employees to executive leadership. I’m known for creating high-performing teams, not through command-and-control tactics, but through partnership, mentorship, and honest collaboration. I believe the best solutions come from the people closest to the work, and my role is to empower them with the tools, resources, and strategies they need to thrive. I do not shy away from complexity—in fact, I lean into it. Whether leading safety across multiple power plants and telecom sites or navigating the fast-paced chaos of live media productions, I bring calm, clarity, and direction. My career has been defined by fostering cultures where safety is embedded into the fabric of how work gets done—and where every person feels responsible, capable, and protected. Highlights of My Career: • Over 20 years of progressive, award-winning leadership in safety management • Multi-industry experience—including power generation, telecommunications, entertainment, theme parks, consulting, and government • Trusted advisor to executives and operational leaders; skilled at influencing change and building strong partnerships • Successfully grew my current safety team by 75% within two years to meet growing operational needs • Skilled in enterprise-level safety program development, incident prevention, and cultural transformation • Led park-wide safety operations for Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom for over 8 years • Certified Safety Professional (CSP®) with two bachelor’s degrees and currently pursuing my master’s in Safety, Security, & Emergency Management