Department of Safety & Homeland Security Promotes 10 Employees

NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security promoted 10 employees on Wednesday, including nine members of the Tennessee Highway Patrol and one employee in Research, Planning and Development. The ceremony took place at the department’s Training Center in Nashville.  Rank advancements were presented to the following individuals:

 

Phil Hardin was promoted to Major over the Administrative Support Bureau. Hardin most recently served as Captain of Emergency and Support Services, a position he has held since 2008. Hardin started his career with the Tennessee Highway Patrol in 1977 as a Trooper assigned to the Fall Branch District where he served for 10 years before moving to the THP Special Operations Unit. He was promoted to Sergeant in Hawkins and Grainger Counties, and then reassigned as a supervisor at the THP Training Center. Hardin would later become Lieutenant and Assistant Director of the THP Training Center and Head of the Driver Improvement, Ignition Interlock, and Crash Analysis Sections. In 2006 he was promoted to Captain of the Executive Security Section with the primary responsibility of protection and transportation of the First Family. As Major, Hardin will continue to retain direct supervision over the THP’s Executive Security and Aviation Units. He is a licensed pilot and an FAA certified and licensed flight instructor. Hardin earned an associate degree in criminal justice from Walters State Community College.

 

Lee Chaffin has been promoted to Captain over the Special Operations Unit. A 30 year veteran, Chaffin most recently served as the Commander of the Special Operations Unit. He started his career with the THP assigned to the Cookeville District. When given the opportunity to become a member of the THP Special Operations-Tactical Squad, Chaffin moved to Nashville and served in that capacity for nine years. He served as Paramedic for the team, Bomb Technician, Counter-Sniper, and Entry Team Member. Chaffin created scale drawings of crime scenes and architectural blueprints for building additions, completed layouts for VIP Security Plans and was assigned to do VIP Security for various high profile individuals. He handled the THP's first drug dog, “Major Maggie Mae” and first cadaver dog, “Chemo.” Chaffin was also previously assigned to the Planning and Research Section, was assigned the task of starting and leading a Staff Inspection Unit, was asked by the Colonel to serve as Administrative Assistant, and later was promoted as the Executive Officer in the Colonel’s Office. He has instructed classes at Vanderbilt University, Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee Tech University, Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy, and at the Department of Safety’s Training Center. The Cookeville native attended Tennessee Tech University and the University of Tennessee, Nashville where he graduated from the Critical Care Program as a Paramedic. He was employed at the Putnam County Ambulance Service for five years as a paramedic and also served as Assistant Director. Chaffin and his wife Susan currently live in Smyrna. They have one grown daughter.

 

Harve “Randy” Nauman was promoted to Special Agent in the Criminal Investigations Division (C.I.D.) in the Lawrenceburg District assigned to Lawrence County. Nauman was commissioned as a Trooper in 1989 and was assigned to Coffee County where he worked the road for eight and a half years. He then transferred to

Special Operations, working out of Nashville, a position he has held for fourteen years. Nauman has served as a Bomb Technician, Tactical Operator, and Marksman/Observer. The Cleveland, Tennessee native now resides in Manchester.

James Smith was promoted to Special Agent in the Criminal Investigations Division (C.I.D.) inthe Memphis District assigned to Shelby County. Smith became a Trooper in 2004. Throughout his seven years of service with the THP, Smith has had training in Commercial Vehicle Enforcement in the Memphis District, road patrol experience in Crockett, Lauderdale, and Tipton Counties, has served as an Accident Reconstructionist, and completed the Drug Recognition Expert Evaluation and Classification Program. Smith previously served on the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department and the Ripley Police Dept.  In December 2010, he graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of University Studies Degree with a major in criminal and social behavior. Originally from Denison, Texas, Smith currently resides in Ripley.

 

Robert Johnson was promoted to Special Agent in the Criminal Investigations Division (C.I.D.) in the Fall Branch District assigned to Washington County. Johnson started with Commercial Vehicle Enforcement in 2001, assigned to Greene County Scales. In January 2004, Johnson attended the THP Academy. Upon graduation, the Blountville native was assigned as a Trooper to Sullivan County. He has been a member of THP District 5 Strike.

Michael Killion was promoted to Special Agent in the Criminal Investigations Division (C.I.D.) in the Jackson District assigned to Weakly County. Killion graduated from the THP Academy in 2000 and was originally assigned to Crockett County in the Jackson District. He transferred to Henry County, where he has served as a Trooper for nine years. Killion was assigned as a K-9 handler for approximately three years during that time. Killion was raised in Dresden and Paris, Tennessee. He and his wife Beth currently reside in Cottage Grove, Tennessee. They have two children.

 

Terrence “Craig” Smith was promoted to Special Agent in the Criminal Investigations Division (C.I.D.) in the Nashville District assigned to Sumner County. Smith has been a Trooper since 1989. He and worked the road until 1991, then went into CID/narcotics until 1994. After a brief return to the road, Smith was assigned to the Special Operations Unit in 1997, where he has served until this recent promotion. Smith has experience in investigating bomb threats/hazardous devices and rendering safe any suspicious packages and or Improvised Explosive Devices, the use of special weapons and tactics in high risk felony investigations, hostage rescue and barricaded suspects conducting underwater search and rescue for investigations involving stolen vehicles, bodies, weapons and victims of crime, provide dignitary protection for state, federal and foreign officials. Smith is SCUBA and SWAT trained and has served as a K-9 Handler. He earned a Bachelor of Science Criminal Justice from Middle Tennessee State University and is a member of the International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators.

 

Carl Nutt has been promoted to Sergeant in the Lawrenceburg District assigned to Hickman County. Nutt began his law enforcement career in 1995, always aspiring to be a Tennessee State Trooper. He was hired on to the THP in 2004 and spent his first year on the patrol in Lawrence County. Nutt was transferred to Wayne County in 2005 and has worked there up until now. Nutt is a Field Training Officer and a Certified Accident Reconstructionist. The Waynesboro native and his wife Jo Ann have two children and currently reside in Linden.

 

Christopher Smith hasbeen promoted to Sergeant in the Nashville District assigned to Humphreys County. Smith was commissioned as a Trooper in 1997 and has been assigned to Hickman County for the past 14 years. Smith has been a member of the THP District 7 Strike team for the past five years. He is certified as a Commercial Motor Vehicle level 3 inspector, and has specialized training in advanced traffic crash investigation, railroad grade crossing crash investigation, riot training, hazardous materials cobra training, and mass arrest/protestor training. Smith has been selected Trooper of the Year three times by the Hickman County Chamber of Commerce. Smith is a native of Duck River in Hickman County. He currently resides in Spring Hill.

 

Chris Osbourn has been promoted toTraffic Safety Data Manager overseeing the TITAN Program, statistical analysis and GIS services in the Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s Research, Planning and Development Division (RP&D). Osbourn has been with the department since November 2004. He currently serves as co-chair of the Tennessee Traffic Records Coordinating Committee and was recognized by the Tennessee Governor’s Highway Safety Office with a 2010 Lifesaver Award in recognition of unwavering dedication and outstanding commitment to highway safety. Chris previously served in RP&D as a Statistical Research Specialist, in the department’s Office of Strategic Planning as a Performance Accountability Manager, and began his career with the Tennessee Department of Human Resources as an Examinations Analyst. Osbourn graduated with a Master’s degree from Clemson University and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida. He and his wife Emily have two children.

 

Photos are available upon request.