Steven Watterson, Past Chair

Education Associate at South Carolina Department of Education. After a full career as a Naval Officer, service in CTAE for over 15 years!

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Rich Trinkwalder, Chair 

Navy veteran and former criminal investigator and compliance specialist. Currently a high school Law and Justice instructor and adjunct professor. Rich also serves as the ACTE New and Related Services Division VP.

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Kevin Bronson, Vice Chair

Education Program Consultant for Career, Standards and Assessment Team at Kansas State Department of Education. Educator for 25 years in areas of construction, cabinetmaking and drafting design.

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Candace Vinson, Secretary

Education Consultant at Michigan Department of Education, Office of Career & Technical Education, Career Readiness Unit. Over a decade working in technical education, she was a Family Consumer Science teacher before moving into administration. 

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Dr. Thomas Washburn, Interim Treasurer

A recent retiree as Program Specialist for LPSCS pathways for Fulton County Schools (Atlanta, Georgia) and classroom teacher at the Cambridge Law & Justice Program (Milton, Georgia). Tom is the Executive Director for LAPSEN 

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Erica Settelen, Executive Committee – Category 2 State Representative

Academic Program Consultant for the Office of Career & Technical Education at the Kentucky Department of Education. Erica entered CTE as an Occupation-Based Educator in Culinary Arts at the secondary level and later served as a Student Achievement Coordinator and Building Assessment Coordinator overseeing logistics, improvements, and resources for state, district, and CTE assessments in pursuit of graduating all high school students post-secondary ready.

Jordan Whittington, Executive Committee – Category 3 State Representative 

Program Director for Health and Public Safety at the Colorado Community College System. Started as a Army Combat Medic, taught Health Science and now works for the CCCS. 

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Dave Nichols, Executive Committee – At Large Representative

Extension Program Assistant with the MSU School of Human Sciences. Mr. Nichols also serves as the State Program Manager for Mississippi Citizen Corps of the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security.

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Dr. David Barbour, State Representative ​

Education Consultant for Trade & Industry at North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Over two decades working in technical education.  

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Patricia Beardeaux, State Representative   

After working in the private sector for over 15 years plus teaching middle school, Mrs. Beardeaux is the Career & Technical Education Resource Teacher for the Hawaii State Department of Education.

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California State Representative

Cindy Beck retired and we are waiting on her replacement 

Miranda Bright, State Representative

Human Sciences and Education Career Field Specialist for the Nebraska Department of Education. Former Family and Consumer Sciences Educator and FCCLA sponsor.

Dr. Oscar Carter

Director of Skilled Technical Sciences at the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education. Over three decades working in technical education.  

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Dr. Joseph N. Coffee, Member Emeritus 

Over three decades working with career programs across the nation. 20 years of experience working with Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security programs. Formerly worked with the ATF. Joe is the past Executive Director for LAPSEN.

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Maren Hansen, State Representative

Education Specialist at Utah State Board of Education. She was a Health Science teacher for two decades before moving into CTE administration. 

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Kira Hassler-Newsom, Special State Representative

Former forensic scientist and dispatcher is currently a high school Criminal Justice instructor. Texas Public Service Association is a special member of LAPSEN and represents instructors in Texas. 

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Deja Luckett, State Representative 

Associate Director for Career and Technical Education at the Illinois Community College Board. She has broad experience in research and leading projects in post secondary institutions.  

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Sandra Martin, State Representative

Georgia Department of Education Program Specialist. After several decades working in technical education, she was a former registered dental hygienist and then a Health Science teacher before moving into administration. 

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Mississippi State Representative

This position is open. We are waiting to be notified when the position is filled. 

Ricky Gunkel, Program Specialist 

Ricky Gunkel is the Program Specialist for Oklahoma CareerTech. He retired as a Lieutenant from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. In the interim he worked with the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training.

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Frank Tetrick, State Representative

Coordinator of Law and Public Safety at West Virginia Department of Education. Mr. Tetrick recently moved into LPS administration after serving in other coordinator positions. 

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Virginia State Representative

Lauren-Anne Sledzinski retired and we are awaiting her replacement.

Jeff Branyon, Post Secondary Cohort Representative

Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, Director of POST Academy at Truett McConnell University. Former GBI Agent, Police Chief for Baldwin Georgia and Marshall of Dahlonega. 

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Timothy F. Bussineau, Agency Cohort Representative

Law and Public Safety Educator at Romeo High School Health Human and Public Service Academy and Mock Trial Coach

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Michael Caruso, Ph.D., School District Cohort Representative

Adjunct Professor and University Supervisor at University of Maryland Global Campus, and Instructional Program Coordinator at Prince George’s County Public Schools.

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Dr. Kevin Johnson, AdvanceCTE Representative

Senior Advisor at Advance CTE. He has extensive CTE administrative experience at the local, state, and national levels. Starting in the Army, his medical career led to the classroom as a health science teacher before jumping into administration. 

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Jennifer Powell, Esq., Individual Member Representative

Criminal Justice instructor at POLYTECH High School in Delaware. Former prosecuting attorney, patrol officer and founder of StandByMe Security. 

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Chris Wood, Corporate Partner Representative

Executive Director of  the National Emergency Communication Institute, NECI 9-1-1.

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