Brian Marvel joined the San Diego Police Department in 1999. He served ten years in patrol operations at several divisions. His last assignment was in the Wellness Unit and as the Military Liaison officer for the department. He is a veteran and an adjunct professor at the San Diego Regional Police Academy.

Marvel was elected in 2009 to the first of five two-year terms as president of the SDPOA (San Diego Police Officers Association), representing over 1,900 members. He was originally elected to the board in 2007 as a director. He was the longest serving President in the 109-year history of the SDPOA.

Marvel was overwhelmingly elected president of the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) in November 2017 and officially took office in January 2018. PORAC represents 77,000 public safety members in over 920 associations, making it the largest law enforcement organization in California and the largest statewide association in the nation. Brian is the fourth PORAC President from the SDPOA. Brian was re-elected (unopposed) for his second two-year term in 2020.

Marvel is the former president of Californians Against Slavery (CAS). He is a former treasurer for the CCLEA (CA Coalition of Law Enforcement Associations). Marvel is a contributing author to the book, ‘Law Enforcement, Police Unions, and the Future.’ Published a white paper on, ‘Police Body-Worn Cameras; Background, Benefits, and Issues.’ He also consulted on the development of the University of San Diego (USD) Master of Science in Law Enforcement & Public Safety Leadership program and USD Law Enforcement Association Leadership Symposium. He speaks at a variety of seminars on police union leadership issues.