When Colonel Ked Wills speaks about leadership, people listen. With 30 years in law enforcement and seven years as the director of the Idaho State Police before retirement, Wills carries wisdom earned through decades of service and commitment to his community.
Growing up in Glens Ferry, Idaho, Wills was raised by parents who embodied service and hard work. His father, a state trooper who spent his entire 30-year career in this small town, demonstrated what it meant to make any job look like play. “He always made any job he did look like it wasn’t a job, like it was play,” Wills shared, revealing how this early influence shaped his own approach to leadership. His mother, who became a kindergarten teacher and later earned a master’s degree in her 40s, demonstrated the value of lifelong learning – a principle that Wills carries with him to this day.
The foundation of Wills’s leadership philosophy is captured perfectly in his book title, “Lead Now: No Title Required.” Throughout the conversation, Wills emphasized that true leadership isn’t about position or authority – it’s about influence and action regardless of title. “I thought that when you became a leader is when you start acting like a leader,” he explained. “I didn’t understand until I was older that when you start acting like a leader, you don’t need the title.” This powerful insight flips traditional thinking about leadership progression on its head. Instead of waiting for a promotion to demonstrate leadership qualities, Wills suggests that consistently displaying leadership behavior is what ultimately earns the promotion.
One of the most compelling aspects of Wills’ leadership approach is his focus on self-discipline and personal growth. He believes that leadership begins with self-leadership – the ability to hold yourself accountable when no one is watching. “It’s not doing what’s when everybody’s looking and clapping and cheering, that’s easy,” Wills notes. “It’s when nobody’s looking, who are you really?” For Wills, this means maintaining consistent morning routines, prioritizing physical fitness, continuing education through reading, and spiritual practice – habits that set the foundation for leading others effectively.
The impact of Wills’ leadership approach extends beyond personal achievement. His mission statement revealed during the interview captures this perfectly: “My life’s mission is to become the best version of myself, so I can help other people be the best version of themselves.” This outward focus transforms leadership from self-advancement to service advancement – helping others recognize and fulfill their potential.
Perhaps what distinguishes Wills’ career most markedly is his deep appreciation for Idaho’s unique law enforcement culture. Unlike many states facing growing anti-police sentiment, Idaho has maintained strong community support for its officers. Wills attributes this to a foundation of trust: “The public will only support law enforcement in so much as they trust law enforcement.” This principle guided his leadership at ISP, where maintaining and strengthening public trust remained a top priority.
Even in retirement, Wills continues to lead. Working with the International Association of Chiefs of Police, he now travels regularly to South America, helping develop road safety initiatives and law enforcement training in Ecuador, Colombia, and Argentina. This international work allows him to share lessons from Idaho’s collaborative law enforcement culture with agencies working in more siloed environments.
As our communities face increasingly complex challenges, Wills’s leadership philosophy offers timeless guidance: lead yourself first, start leading before you have the title, and focus on developing yourself so you can develop others. These principles apply far beyond law enforcement – they’re a blueprint for anyone seeking to make a positive difference, regardless of their position or title.
