Major Michael Hamilton

Major Hamilton oversees the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s East Bureau. Major Hamilton previously served as the Protection Services and Special Programs Bureau and also the Executive Officer to the Colonel. He started his law enforcement career with the Overton County Sheriff’s Office in 1994. In 1996, he joined the Cookeville Police Department working there for one year before starting the Tennessee Highway Patrol Academy in March of 1997. Upon graduating the academy, Major Hamilton was assigned to patrol the Cookeville District. He worked patrol for over two years before transferring to the Special Operations Team. He was with Special Operations for more than two years before transferring back to patrol in The THP Cookeville District. In September of 2006, he was promoted to Sergeant and served as a Troop Sergeant in the Cookeville District until April 2010. He then transferred to the CALEA/Staff Inspections Unit in Nashville, serving in this capacity for four months. In July 2010, he was promoted to Lieutenant in the Nashville District. One year later, Major Hamilton was transferred to the Inspectional Service Bureau where he was promoted to Captain in 2016. Major Hamilton received an Associate’s Degree from Vol State Community College and a Bachelor's Degree from Tennessee Tech. He is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command and the TGMI Leadership program. Major Hamilton was a charter member of the Tennessee Highway Patrol Honor Guard and served in that capacity for more than nine years.