Governor Selects New Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent

Article Presented By Horizon Connects

(Columbus)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced the appointment of the new superintendent of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Effective on August 12, Lieutenant Colonel Charles A. Jones will assume the responsibilities of the superintendent of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and will be promoted to the rank of colonel. Lieutenant Colonel Jones will replace the outgoing superintendent, Colonel Richard S. Fambro, who will retire on August 12 after nearly 32 years of distinguished service.

“The appointment of Lieutenant Colonel Jones to superintendent of the Ohio State Highway Patrol will further enhance the agency’s exemplary public safety services for the citizens of Ohio,” said Governor DeWine. “I am confident he has the experience and vision to ensure that Ohio’s roads and communities remain safe for all Ohio families.”

Lieutenant Colonel Charles A. Jones began his Patrol career in February 1994 as a member of the 126th Academy Class. He earned his commission in July of that year and was assigned to the Marion Post, where he earned the state proficiency award in auto larceny enforcement in 1998. In 1999, Lieutenant Colonel Jones was promoted to the rank of sergeant and assigned to the Delaware Post to serve as an assistant post commander. As a sergeant, he also served at the Patrol’s Training Academy. He was promoted in 2004 to the rank of lieutenant and remained at the Patrol’s Training Academy. As a lieutenant, he also served in the Office of Personnel, Columbus District Criminal Patrol Unit, and the Marion Post. In 2013, he was promoted to the rank of staff lieutenant and remained at the Patrol’s Training Academy. He also served at the Bucyrus District Headquarters. In 2018, he was promoted to the rank of captain and transferred back to the Patrol’s Training Academy. In 2019, he was promoted to the rank of major and served as commander in the Office of Training, Recruitment and Diversity. In 2021, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Lieutenant Colonel Jones announced that he has selected Major Joshua M. Swindell to serve as a new assistant superintendent of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Major Swindell will be promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and will fill the assistant superintendent position vacated by Lieutenant Colonel Jones. Major Swindell will serve alongside current assistant superintendent Lieutenant Colonel Marla Gaskill.

Major Joshua M. Swindell began his Patrol career in August 1993 as a cadet dispatcher assigned to the Dayton Post. He began his training as a member of the 127^th Academy Class in May 1995. He earned his commission in November of that year and was assigned to the Sandusky Post, where he was selected as Post Trooper of the Year in 1998.In 2000, he was selected as Post, District, and State Trooper of the Year. He also earned the Criminal Patrol and the Ace Award for excellence in auto larceny enforcement. In 2001, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and transferred to the Marion Post to serve as an assistant post commander. In 2003, he transferred to the Bowling Green Post. In 2006, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and transferred to the Medina Post to serve as post commander. In 2011, he was promoted to the rank of staff lieutenant and transferred to the Office of Field Operations to serve as an inspecting officer. In 2013, he transferred to Bucyrus District Headquarters to serve as an assistant district commander. In July 2015, he was promoted to the rank of captain and transferred to Warren District Headquarters. In 2017, he was promoted to the rank of Major, serving as commander in the Office of Field Operations.