Interim Commissioner Gerald Nicely announces new THP Colonel Mike Walker, Lt. Colonel Albert Strawther, and DL Director Greta Dajani.

Nashville, Tennessee --- Department of Safety Interim Commissioner Gerald Nicely has made three key appointments. The decisions put new commanders in place at the Tennessee Highway Patrol, and a new manager in the department's Driver License Issuance Division.

Nicely said, "After careful consideration, I have chosen Captain Mike Walker to be Colonel of the THP, and Captain Albert Strawther as the Lieutenant Colonel. I have carefully reviewed the experience and backgrounds of both of these people. I also requested a similar review by the Kroll Group, and they concur with my choices for these important jobs."

Walker, a 29-year veteran of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, is currently the head of Professional Standards for the Department of Safety. Strawther, who has been with THP for 28 years, oversees the department's Safety Education unit. Both men begin their new jobs on March 2nd .

Nicely has also named veteran administrator Greta Dajani to manage the Driver License Issuance Division. "I have the utmost confidence in Mrs. Dajani's abilities," said Nicely. "She served the state for many years in the Department of Human Services, where she directed operations of the Food Stamps program. She will be a tremendous asset to this department." Mrs. Dajani's appointment is also effective immediately.

The Tennessee Department of Safety's mission is (www.tn.gov/safety) to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public. The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security and Driver License Services. General areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.

Colonel Mike Walker is a 28-year veteran of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. The Colonel most recently served as Captain of the Professional Standards Division.

Colonel Walker is a native of Dunlap , Tennessee . His first law enforcement job was as a police officer in Signal Mountain . He attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and completed the Northwestern University Police Administration course. He joined THP in 1977, first working as a Road Trooper in Marion County . He has held positions of increasing responsibility, including supervising troops in five counties, coordinating security for THP at the Ocoee Olympic site during the 1996 Olympics and serving as the Administrative Lieutenant for THP's Chattanooga District. He became the Captain over Professional Standards in 2003.

Colonel Walker is married with seven children.

Lt. Colonel Albert Strawther is the THP's new second-in-command. He has almost 28 years experience with the Tennessee Highway Patrol. A native of Lebanon, Tennessee, he attended Vol State Community College and is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute in Louisville, Kentucky.

Strawther's first job in law enforcement was as a member of the Lebanon Police Department. After serving in the Air Force, he worked for Sumner Memorial Hospital before becoming a State Trooper in 1978. His first job was as a Road Trooper, working in Davidson, Williamson, Cheatham, Dickson and Sumner Counties He later transferred to the Training Division and was promoted to Sergeant. He served in the Executive Security unit before being promoted to Captain and becoming Director of the Capitol Police. Since 2003, he has headed up the department's Safety Education unit.

Lt. Colonel Strawther is married and has two children and a grandchild.

Director Greta Dajani has dedicated 45 years to public service, including 14 years as Director of the Food Stamp Program with the Department of Human Services. Mrs. Dajani was instrumental in implementing the Food Stamp Program in counties across Tennessee and successfully promoted a state law which brought Food Stamps to all Tennessee counties, making Tennessee one of the first states to have a statewide food stamp program. During her tenure as Director of the Food Stamp Program, Dajani was honored with the prestigious Howard L. Russell Memorial Merit Award.

Mrs. Dajani also spent several years at the Metro Development and Housing Administration, where she was Director of General Services. She oversaw the agency's budget, procurement, grant administration, personnel, training, quality control for public housing and the emergency food program for Davidson County .

She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and is a native of Coffee County . Mrs. Dajani is married with three children.