In 1979 at age 16, Brett was the youngest person ever hired as a fully-fledged Del Mar lifeguard. In a few years he became a seasonal supervisor and remained so until 1993 when he was promoted to lieutenant, then the Department's second-in-command.

Brett made hundreds of rescues and medical aids in 15 years of service, and was in the first cadre of seasonal Del Mar lifeguards to attend law enforcement training, pursue emergency medical technician ratings, and become proficient in river rescue techniques. He was a charter member of the Del Mar Lifeguard Association, where he coordinated public education, organized fundraising events and supported international lifeguard exchange visits to California.

Brett left lifeguarding in 1994 to pursue a career in the United States Foreign Service, but lifeguarding never left him. The leadership, communication and crisis management skills he learned from his lifeguard mentors during action-packed days in Del Mar set the stage for his accomplishments as an American diplomat, especially in assignments to war-torn regions of Africa, the Balkans and the Middle East.

His diplomatic work was recognized by the Foreign Service and other organizations, including via awards and citations for valor and humanitarian acts in conflict zones, but the small plaque marking his induction into the Del Mar Lifeguard Hall of Fame alongside his DMLG mentors represents the honor he values more than any other.