Lt. Colonel Danny Wilson joined the Tennessee Highway Patrol in 1977 as a Road Trooper assigned to Dickson County. He served there until 1980, when he was assigned to Davidson County. In 1984, he was assigned to the Governor's Security Detail. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1985. He spent a year in Planning and Research before returning to Governor's Security in 1996. He was promoted to Lieutenant of the unit in 1999. In 2002, he was promoted again to Captain of the Nashville District, and served in that post until his appointment to Lieutenant Colonel in 2006.