Abstract
Charismatic leadership has long been attributed to a select few individuals with exceptional personal qualities, often described as possessing a mysterious and extraordinary capability. The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge presents a case study of leadership during an emergency. Crises such as this not only affect organizational effectiveness but also shape leaders' behavior and influence the outcomes of their actions. The increasing frequency of natural disasters in the United States, with an average of 18-billion-dollar climate-related events annually in recent years, provides growing opportunities for leadership emergence. In the case of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, Maryland Governor Wes Moore demonstrated charismatic leadership, earning public recognition for his response efforts. According to Judge, self-confidence is one of the few traits consistently associated with leadership emergence, closely linking it to charisma and the ability to attract and inspire others. Applying Judge's theory and those of others, this study argues that charisma plays a critical role in shaping how leaders are portrayed and remembered by both the public and the media. Through a qualitative analysis of Governor Wes Moore's communications, this study explores the lasting impact of charismatic leadership during emergency management situations.