Governor Phil Scott Announces Vermont State Police Colonel Matthew Birmingham to Retire; Names Shawn Loan as Colonel of the Vermont State Police

Montpelier, Vt. - Governor Phil Scott and Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison today named Shawn Loan to serve as the next Colonel of the Vermont State Police (VSP). Loan replaces Matthew Birmingham, who will retire next month after 28 years with the State Police, and 11 years as colonel.

"Shawn has held many roles within the State Police and is well respected among his peers," said Governor Phil Scott. "As a resident of the Northeast Kingdom, he understands the challenges facing rural Vermonters and will help us continue our efforts to improve public safety in communities across Vermont."

Lieutenant Colonel Loan joined the Vermont State Police in July 2007 and was assigned as a trooper at the Derby Barracks following his graduation from the Vermont Police Academy. In 2011, he transferred to the Narcotics Investigation Unit as a detective trooper before being promoted to detective sergeant in 2014. In spring 2018, he was promoted to lieutenant and assigned as the director of the Vermont Intelligence Center. He served in that role until his promotion to captain in 2023, and then to major and commander of the Criminal Division a year later. In April 2025, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and deputy director of the State Police. Loan's appointment as colonel and director of the State Police is effective August 7.

"I'm honored to be trusted with the responsibility of leading the Vermont State Police and to continue serving the people of Vermont," Lieutenant Colonel Loan said. "I'm proud to be part of an organization with such a rich history and tradition, and I'm excited to work alongside our members as we build on that foundation and continue moving forward together."

Colonel Birmingham, who will retire August 7, joined the Vermont State Police in 1998. He began his career in the Field Force Division as a road trooper at the Rutland Barracks before moving to the Criminal Division and was assigned to the multi-agency Vermont Drug Task Force as an investigator. Later, he served as the commander of Special Investigations before being promoted to lieutenant colonel in 2014 and to colonel and director of the Vermont State Police in 2015.

"Colonel Birmingham has been a steady leader of the Vermont State Police for more than a decade," said Governor Phil Scott. "He's been willing to step up and lead through some challenging times, and I'm appreciative of his service to Vermont, and I wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement."

"It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the people of Vermont as a state trooper for the past 28 years," Colonel Birmingham said. "I leave this profession with immense gratitude and pride, not for what I have accomplished, but for the opportunity to serve alongside the extraordinary men and women of the Vermont State Police. Every success throughout my career has been a reflection of their dedication, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to the people of this state."

"I have complete confidence in the future of the Vermont State Police. Colonel Birmingham's dedication to this agency and to the people of Vermont has been unmatched, and all of us at the Department of Public Safety wish him well in retirement," Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison said. "As he passes the baton to Lieutenant Colonel Loan, I know the State Police are in a strong position to meet the challenges of the years ahead."

The state police is composed of three divisions: Field Force, which includes all uniformed troopers; Criminal, which includes detectives assigned to the Major Crime Unit, Bureau of Criminal Investigations and other specialized components; and Support Services, which helps coordinate agency operations, oversees two emergency communication centers, and manages VSP's recruiting, training and professional standards initiatives.

Photos are available at the below links:

Colonel Birmingham

Lieutenant Colonel Loan

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