RICHMOND – On Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, the Commonwealth will graduate its 142nd generation of Virginia State Troopers. The 48 new troopers will be presented their diplomas during commencement exercises at 10 a.m. at the State Police Training Academy located at 7700 Midlothian Turnpike in North Chesterfield County. The Honorable Glenn Youngkin, Governor of Virginia, will speak at the graduation ceremony.
This graduating class will consist of both traditional trainees and members of what is known as the “Expedited Law Enforcement Certified Academy.” Members of the Expedited Academy are existing law enforcement professionals who have already been certified by the Department of Criminal Justice Services and have served at least three years in law enforcement elsewhere in Virginia.
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 Trooper-Trainees of the 142nd Basic Session began their 28 weeks of academic, physical and practical training at the Academy June 25, 2024. Those Trooper-Trainees participating in the Expedited Academy began their training November 25, 2024.
The soon-to-be graduates of the 142nd Basic Session are from every corner of the Commonwealth, as well as Maryland, West Virginia, Tennessee, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Florida, and the country of Japan.
Upon graduation, the new troopers will report to their individual duty assignments across Virginia. 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.
142nd Basic Session Motto: “For Justice We Pursue”
140th BASIC GRADUATING CLASS
Name Hometown Assignment
Carter Allen Ayers Lynchburg Arlington
Avery Caiden Ball Honaker Wythe
Nicole Karen Berry Prince George Goochland
Aaron Shelley Branham, Jr. Rhoadesville Orange
Alex James Brown Roanoke Halifax
Jake Mitchell Brown Weedsport, New York Campbell
Rachael Leigh Burch Quicksburg Page
Benjamin Anthony Capets West Springfield Stafford
Odair Rene Castaneda Forest Bedford
Nicholas Shawn Clippinger Winchester Hanover / Henrico
Jordan Lee Coleman Madison Heights Campbell
Mark Jordan Collins Wise Carroll
Kobe Keshawn Copeland Virginia Beach Norfolk / Virginia Beach
Blake Lawson Daniels Winchester Clarke
Ryan Austin Elliott Fluvanna Fluvanna
Taylor Ann Everetts Rockland County, New York Stafford
Tamyia Heaven Fisher Richmond Sussex
Travis Scott Fridley, Jr. Clifton Forge Highland
Alexander Charles Hamilton Waldorf, Maryland Westmoreland
Peter Cromwell Haughton Gloucester Gloucester
Mackenzie Faith Heard Suffolk Norfolk / Virginia Beach
Brandon Joseph Heckelsmiller Glen Allen Louisa
Michael Nelson Huntsberry Martinsburg, West Virginia Rockingham
Brandon Danilo Galindo King Saint Johns, Florida Springfield
Drayven A. Kowalski Trenton, New Jersey Henrico
Derek Christopher Lee Augusta, West Virginia Stafford
Andrew Tate McKinney Fancy Gap Wythe
Ethan Wayne Medley Marion Halifax
Rafael Alexi Mendez Newport News Norfolk / Virginia Beach
Charlie Morris Mills, III Harrisonburg Augusta
Jacob Crandall Moore Interlaken, New York Hanover / Henrico
Sean Lucas Nichols Yomitan, Okinawa, Japan Chesterfield
James Nicholas Packer Williamsburg Norfolk / Virginia Beach
Anthony Blake Phillips Anacoco, Louisiana Henrico
Scotty Lynn Phillips, III Big Stone Gap Buchanan
Caleb Andrew Racey Madison Stafford
Francis Xavier Radel Locust Grove Orange
Stephanie Elizabeth Roberts Gloucester Mathews
Travis Jubari Slim-Simons Nashville, Tennessee Fairfax
Toby Scott Somers Bowling Green Stafford
Brayden Connor Staib Midlothian New Kent
Jonathan David Surran Yorktown Norfolk / Virginia Beach
Austin Len Tosh Bedford Amherst
Todd Andrew Trumble Goode Bedford
Shelby John Van Sickle Virginia Beach Norfolk / Virginia Beach
Jack Steven Winans Winchester Accomack
Jerrod Wesley Worden Troutville Franklin
Kian John Zandipour Natick, Massachusetts Springfield
