Department of Safety & Homeland Security Announce New Tennessee Highway Patrol Major & Executive Officer to the Colonel

NASHVILLE --- Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons and Tennessee Highway Patrol Colonel Tracy Trott today announced the promotion of Captain Tony Barham to Major and Executive Officer to the colonel, effective immediately.  

Barham will replace Major Betty Blair, who will retire after 21 years with the Highway Patrol. She was the first female to hold the rank of major within the agency.  

“Tony will have big shoes to fill in his new role. However, we are confident that his training record, experience and skills as a supervisor in the field will help keep our organization moving forward,” Colonel Trott said. 

Barham has led the THP’s Special Programs Unit since 2009. The unit consisted of all administrative functions of Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, including Pupil and Daycare Transportation Safety, as well as Safety Education and Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) programs. As Captain, Barham oversaw the THP’s Special Programs administrative personnel, who are responsible for providing educational and training programs on a variety of public and traffic safety concerns to citizens across the state.   

The Henderson, Tenn., native began his career with the agency in 1988.  He was first assigned as a road trooper to Giles County in the THP Lawrenceburg District. He continued to work the roads in Hardin and McNairy counties until he was promoted to Sergeant in 2003. In 2008, Barham was promoted to Lieutenant over the Nashville District’s Special Programs Unit.   

Barham received his bachelor’s degree from Freed Hardeman University. He is also a 2003 graduate of the Northwestern School of Police Staff and Command and a 2010 graduate of the Tennessee Government Executive Institute (TGEI). 

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s (www.TN.Gov/safety) mission is to serve, secure, and protect the people of Tennessee.

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