Virginia State Police announces executive staff promotions

Col. Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent, has announced two executive staff promotions and the retirement of veteran VSP leader, Lt. Col. George L. Daniels Jr. Effective June 10, 2018, Matthew D. Hanley was appointed to director of the Bureau of Field Operations (BFO) upon Daniels’ retirement. Hanley most recently served as director of the Office of Performance Management and Internal Controls (OPMIC).

“We are profoundly grateful to Lt. Col. Daniels for his esteemed professionalism and selfless leadership during his extensive tenure with state police,” said Settle. “As we wish him only the best in retirement, his legacy carries on with the appointment of Matt Hanley to director of our field operations. Lt. Col. Hanley’s considerable field experience and progressive thinking will be of great benefit to our patrol and traffic safety efforts across the Commonwealth.”

The BFO director oversees the majority of the Department’s uniformed personnel and is responsible for more than 1,700 sworn and civilian employees. Troopers under the director’s command are responsible for patrolling more than 64,000 miles of state roadways and interstate highways. In coordination with the BFO division commanders and other law enforcement agencies, the director is responsible for all aspects of highway safety, traffic law enforcement, aviation support, emergency medical evacuation, crime prevention, uniform law enforcement support to local agencies, and coordination of law enforcement in civil disturbances and disasters.

Effective July 10, 2018 was the promotion of Maj. Lenmuel S. Terry, BFO deputy director, to lieutenant colonel. Terry’s appointment is to director of OPMIC, a component of the Superintendent’s Office responsible for tracking, monitoring and guiding the Department’s progress towards prioritizing and sustaining agency objectives and strategies. OPMIC is comprised of the Department’s Staff Inspection, Internal Audit and Information Technology Security programs. Terry will also be instrumental in advancing VSP’s ongoing recruitment initiatives aimed at further expanding minority representation among the Department’s sworn and civilian ranks.

“The Virginia State Police is at a critical threshold as we embark on a comprehensive, strategic planning initiative and evolutionary shift towards 21st century policing methods. We are extremely fortunate to have Lt. Col. Terry, a veteran leader of our Department, taking the lead of OPMIC. His comprehensive knowledge of the Department will ensure we’re not only advancing operational, administrative, accreditation and internal auditing functions for the benefit of our personnel, but also for the services we provide the Commonwealth,” said Settle.