Col. Gene Spaulding is the next Florida Highway Patrol Director, effective Aug. 21, replacing Col. David Brierton, who retired in May. Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle Executive Director Terry Rhodes announced the promotion today.
Spaulding brings to the position 22 years of law enforcement knowledge and experience in Florida.
“Having the honor of choosing the Colonel of the Florida Highway Patrol was one of the most significant decisions I will make as Executive Director,” Rhodes said. “I am confident Colonel Gene Spaulding is the right person to effectively lead the Patrol in the years ahead. He brings a field perspective to the Patrol while continuing the traditions that make the Florida Highway Patrol, quite simply, Florida’s Finest.”
Spaulding graduated from the 87th Basic Recruit Class on May 21, 1993. He has since served in five troops throughout the state beginning in Troop K before transferring to Troop G. Troops are mostly geographical divisions in the state. FHP has 12 of them. Flagler County is part of Troop G.
Spaulding was promoted to Sergeant in 1997, moving to Troop D in 2000. In 2001, he was promoted to Lieutenant in Troop Q, Bureau of Investigations, before transferring back to Troop G as a District Lieutenant. He was promoted to captain in 2005 and Commander in 2010, serving in Troop B. Most recently, he has served as Troop G’s Commander since 2014. He holds a B.A. in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia College in Missouri.
