RICHMOND – On Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, the Commonwealth graduated its 139th generation of Virginia State Troopers. The 31 new state troopers were presented their diplomas during commencement exercises at the State Police Training Academy in Chesterfield County.  

"We are extremely proud of these graduates as they begin their career of public safety service with the Virginia State Police," said Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent. "For 91 years, the Virginia State Police has dedicated itself to serving and protecting all those living, working and traveling through the Commonwealth of Virginia. We welcome these new state troopers and are confident in their ability to fulfill the high standards set forth by our mission and values." 

The new troopers have received more than 1,300 hours of classroom and field instruction in more than 100 different subjects, including de-escalation techniques, strategies to assist people in mental health crisis, ethics and leadership, fair and impartial policing, constitutional law, emergency medical trauma care, and public and community relations. The members of the 139th Basic Session began their 28 weeks of academic, physical and practical training at the Academy Feb. 27, 2023. 

The graduates of the 139th Basic Session are from every corner of the Commonwealth, as well as Arkansas, Florida, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Saipan. 

Upon graduation, the new troopers will report to their individual duty assignments across Virginia the week of Sept. 18, 2023. For their final phase of training, each trooper will spend an additional six weeks paired up with a Field Training Officer learning his or her new patrol area. 

139th BASIC GRADUATING CLASS 

Name                                                              Hometown                                         Assignment 

Kaser Acosta                                                   Dominican Republic                          Springfield 

Richard France Adams                                  Spotsylvania                                        Fairfax 

Caleb Altis                                                       Christiansburg                                    Springfield 

Frantzdy Bertrand                                          Haiti                                                     Fairfax County 

Phillip Isaiah Bishop                                      Kingsport, Tenn.                                 Hanover/Henrico 

Michael James Blevins                                  Culpeper                                             Stafford County 

Brandesha Lynn Brown                                 Cedar Bluff                                          Henrico County 

Emily Elizabeth Brownell                              White Creek, N.Y.                               Hanover/Henrico 

Christopher David Bryan                              Columbus, Ohio                                 Norfolk/Virginia Beach 

Matthew Crawford Byram                            Stafford                                               Springfield 

Bryan Mykel Carr                                           Williamsburg                                      James City County 

Erica Choi                                                        Saipan                                                 Springfield 

Jefferson P. Cullison                                       Gloucester                                          Hampton/Newport News 

Zakary Thomas Dickerson                            Plano, Texas                                        Sussex County 

Gabriel Zachary Fletcher                              Scott County                                       Norfolk/Virginia Beach 

Junior Miguel Flores Castaneda                  Martinsville                                        Henry County 

Russell Bennett Franklin, III                         Charlotte County                               Roanoke 

Caleb Evan Holland                                       Bryant, Ark.                                        Portsmouth/Suffolk/Chesapeake 

James Lloyd Lakey, II                                     Strasburg                                            Frederick County 

Justin M. Lowe                                               Shenandoah                                       Augusta County 

Erich Ryan Mann                                           Covington                                           Roanoke 

Brandon Scott Middleton                            Ashburn                                              Fairfax County 

Henry McCord Morrison                             South Boston                                      Hanover/Henrico 

William Alexander Mullins                          Richmond                                           Chesterfield County 

Trevor Chance Plecker                                 Bath County                                        Louisa County 

Franklin Curtis Pulley, III                              Suffolk                                                 Portsmouth/Suffolk/Chesapeake 

Logan Edward Shenk                                    Staunton                                             Roanoke 

Parker Elliott Shenk                                      Staunton                                             Roanoke 

Sarah Elizabeth Stewart                              Eustis, Fla.                                           Campbell County 

Briggs Underwood                                       Bedford                                               Accomack County 

Steven Jacob Winn                                       Bucktown, Penn.                               Henrico County 

Virginia State Police is currently hiring for trooper positions in future Academy classes. To apply online and/or learn more about our hiring bonus, benefits, and career opportunities, go to www.vatrooper.com.