Opening General Assembly

Colonel Matthew T. Birmingham, age 48, has been a member of the Vermont State Police for 26 years. After joining the department in 1998, Colonel Birmingham was assigned to the Field Force Division as a road trooper at the Rutland Barracks. He eventually transferred to the Criminal Division and was assigned to the multi-agency Vermont Drug Task Force as an investigator. Most of his career in the state police was focused on narcotic and special investigations. As a member of the Vermont Drug Task Force, he worked as a criminal investigator, field supervisor and was eventually promoted to Commander of the Narcotics Investigation Unit. He served a short period as the Commander of Special Investigations at State Police Headquarters before being promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 2014. In that role, he served as Deputy Director of the State Police under Colonel Thomas L’Esperance. On August 7, 2015 he was promoted to Colonel, Director of the Vermont State Police. Colonel Birmingham holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Vermont in Burlington, Vermont and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut.

Appointed in December of 2025, Chief Manny Cid serves as the 38th Chief of Police for the Anaheim Police Department and possesses seven years of Police Chief experience, having lead three different Southern California police departments. Chief Cid brings a collaborative and forward-thinking leadership philosophy, with a strong commitment to proactive policing, organizational professionalism, and community-focused partnerships. Born and raised in Southern California, Chief Cid is a first-generation Cuban-American who has spent most of his life living and working in the greater Los Angeles region. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Whittier College and a Master’s degree in Public Administration and Organizational Leadership from National University. He is a graduate of several respected law enforcement leadership and executive development programs, including the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, the West Point Leadership Program, California POST’s Executive Development Course, and the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Chief Cid began his law enforcement career with the Culver City Police Department, where he served that community for nearly 20 years. Over the course of his tenure, he worked a wide range of assignments in field operations, investigations, narcotics, administration, professional standards, and emergency management. His early work included participation on multiple local, state, and federal task forces, contributing to public safety efforts on a regional scale. After progressing up the ranks of the organization, Chief Cid was appointed as Chief of Police for the Culver City Police Department in 2020, becoming the youngest Police Chief in California at 38 years old. Later in 2022, Chief Cid went onto serve as Chief of Police for the Glendale Police Department, where he continued to emphasize community-centric policing, leveraging technology, and high professional standards and employee development. Throughout his career, Chief Cid has been recognized with several awards and honors, including the Sustained Superiority Award, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Career Achievement Award, as well as serving as President of the Los Angeles County Police Chief’s Association in 2024-2025. Outside of his professional role, Chief Cid is an avid sports fan who enjoys staying active and spending time with his family.

On February 3, 2023, Commissioner Sean Duryee was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to serve as the 17th Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol (CHP). Commissioner Duryee is a 28-year veteran of the CHP. As the nation’s largest state police agency, the CHP is comprised of nearly 11,000 employees with an operational budget of approximately 3.2 billion dollars. While serving in this capacity, Commissioner Duryee is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of millions of residents and visitors across the Golden State. Prior to this appointment, Commissioner Duryee served as Deputy Commissioner, where he maintained direct oversight of the Department’s day-to-day operations. Before joining the Department, Commissioner Duryee served active duty in the United States Army for four years. In 1998, Commissioner Duryee entered the CHP Academy, and has held every rank in the Department, from CHP Cadet through Deputy Commissioner. Furthermore, Commissioner Duryee has served in several other positions, including: Executive Assistant to the Commissioner, Special Representative to the Legislature, Commander of the Department’s Commercial Vehicle Section, Academy Instructor, and various field assignments. Throughout his career, Commissioner Duryee has received numerous honors and awards, including the Governor’s Employee Safety Award for his efforts to enhance officer safety training. Moreover, his vast departmental experience and knowledge were instrumental in implementing the Department’s Advanced Officer Safety Training program. As a law enforcement leader, Commissioner Duryee strongly believes in the value of community service, respect for others, and fair and impartial policing. Over the course of his career, he has actively provided community service both on- and off-duty, including instructing community self-defense courses, and volunteering for local church youth groups, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Explorer programs. Commissioner Duryee also has a decade of experience coaching basketball and served as the Head Coach of the Liberty Ranch High School women’s basketball team in Galt, California. Commissioner Duryee holds an Associate of Arts Degree in Sociology from Sacramento City College and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice Management from Union Institute & University. He is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Executive Institute Class #47, and a current member of the Distinguished Advisory Board of the University of Virginia’s Center for Public Safety and Justice.

Jonathan Morrison, NHTSA’s Administrator, leads the nation’s agency tasked with establishing and enforcing vehicle safety standards and educating Americans to help them drive, ride and walk safely. His work also includes delivering on administration priorities, including development and execution of the federal regulatory framework for automated vehicles, setting and enforcing vehicle fuel economy standards and leading the national 911 and emergency medical services programs. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on Sept. 18, 2025. Morrison previously served as NHTSA’s chief counsel, from 2017 to 2021, where he oversaw legal services for NHTSA’s vehicle and traffic safety programs. Before returning to NHTSA in 2025, Morrison led legal, regulatory, government affairs and policy for Apple’s Special Projects Group. Over the course of his career, Morrison served as president of Auto Advisory Services, a legal compliance consulting company, and as director of legal and regulatory affairs for the California New Car Dealers Association. He served as an appointed member of the California Bureau of Automotive Repair Advisory Group, a director of the California Automotive Business Coalition, and a director of the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and music from the University of Pittsburgh, a juris doctor from the Notre Dame Law School and a master’s degree in international business law from University College London.

Sergeant Nicholas Hazlett routinely says, “Perspective is a gift.” Hazlett has built his perspective in law enforcement for over 18 years with the Colorado State Patrol. He is currently assigned to the Alamosa, District 5 Troop B office, serving the San Luis Valley, as a team supervisor. His area of passion and expertise are in all facets of impaired driving prevention, education, apprehension and prosecution; Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) Instructor, Advanced Roadsides and Impaired Driving Enforcement, Drug Recognition Expert Instructor / Course Manager and an Intoxylizer-9000 Instructor. Hazlett is the current DRE Section Chair of the IACP (International Association of Chiefs of Police). Hazlett Chaired MADD Colorado’s Law Enforcement Committee through 2022. Hazlett Chaired the Pikes Peak Regional DUI Task Force from 2018 to 2021, facilitating the mission of eradicating all forms of Impaired Driving through enforcement, education and community partnerships. Hazlett was published in the January 2026, issue of Police Chief Magazine in his article, “How to Communicate More Effectively During Traffic Stops.”