RICHMOND – Virginia State Police Superintendent, Colonel Gary T. Settle, has promoted a 25-year veteran of the Department to the position of Director of the Bureau of Administrative and Support Services (BASS). Lieutenant Colonel Eric W. Gowin previously served as Deputy Director of BASS, and replaces Lieutenant Colonel Tricia W. Powers, upon her retirement.
Lieutenant Colonel Gowin had served as Deputy Director since April 2023, after having served as the commander of the Information Technology (IT) Division since 2020. Gowin graduated the VSP Academy in January of 2000 as a member of the 99th Basic Session. His first patrol assignment was with the Richmond Division Area 6 Office in Amelia County. In 2007, he transferred to the Aviation Unit and achieved the rank of Trooper-Pilot. In 2010, he was promoted to Sergeant, assigned to the Training Academy. In 2016, Gowin was promoted to the rank of First Sergeant within the Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s (BCI) Criminal Intelligence Division, where he led the Field Intelligence Agents and FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force officers, as well as served as Deputy Director of the Virginia Fusion Center. He achieved the rank of Lieutenant with the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division in 2018. In 2020, Gowin was promoted to Captain and took command of the IT Division until his promotion as Major in 2023. Gowin was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on May 10, 2024.
Gowin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Multidisciplinary Studies from Liberty University. While at John Tyler Community College (now Brightpoint Community College), he completed an Associate of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and a Certificate in Police Science. He is a graduate of the National Criminal Justice Command College with the University of Virginia.
Lieutenant Colonel Powers served as the Director of BASS since her appointment on August 30, 2022. She was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel after having served as a BASS Deputy Director since 2019. Prior to joining the executive staff, Powers was the commander of the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division from 2016 through 2019, and a CJIS Lieutenant from 2013 through 2016. Powers graduated the Virginia State Police Academy in 1994 with the 90th Basic Session. Her first patrol assignment as a new Trooper was in the Culpeper Division Area 13 Office in Winchester. In 1997, she was promoted to Special Agent and advanced to the rank of First Sergeant working in general investigations and drug enforcement in the Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s (BCI) Culpeper and Chesapeake Field Offices. She returned to uniform as a First Sergeant in 2010 as the commander of the Chesapeake Division Area 32 Office in Norfolk/Virginia Beach. In 2012, Powers was promoted to Lieutenant with the Richmond Division.
A native of Luray, Virginia, Powers is a 2012 graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Bridgewater College and a Master of Criminal Justice degree from Troy State University.
Major Matthew T. Patterson has been named as a Deputy Director of BASS, filling the vacancy created by Gowin’s promotion. Prior to his appointment to BASS Deputy Director, Patterson served as the division commander for the CJIS Division. Patterson graduated the Academy in January of 2000 with the 99th Basic Session. His first patrol assignment was in the Richmond Division’s Area 1 Office, covering Henrico and Hanover Counties from 2000-2005. He was promoted to Special Agent in 2005 and worked with the Criminal Intelligence Division. In 2008, he advanced to Sergeant and worked out of the Bureau of Field Operations (BFO) Richmond Headquarters. In 2010, he transferred to the Training Division, before being promoted to First Sergeant, where he worked investigations in the BCI-Chesapeake Field Office. He transferred to the CJIS Division’s Sex Offender Investigative Unit in 2011 where he worked for four years. In 2015, he was promoted to Lieutenant, where he oversaw the Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection Program within the BFO Safety Division. In 2020, Patterson transferred back to the CJIS Division, and achieved the rank of Captain later that year.
A native of Powhatan County, Patterson is a 2013 graduate of the University of Virginia’s National Criminal Justice Command College. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology, with minors in psychology and criminology, from James Madison University.
