First Responders Honored at the 2026 Three Stars of Tennessee Award Ceremony
At today’s 2026 “Three Stars of Tennessee Award” ceremony, Governor Bill Lee, State Senator Becky Duncan Massey, Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Jeff Long and Deputy Commissioner Greg Mays honored and remembered six first responders who lost their lives or sustained career‑ending injuries in the line of duty.
2026 “Three Stars of Tennessee Award” Honorees
Flight Nurse/Paramedic Allan Williams, Vanderbilt University Medical Center - Vanderbilt LifeFlight
On Nov. 8, 2025, Vanderbilt LifeFlight 1—operating as a critical care air medical transport for Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital—crashed, injuring the pilot and flight paramedic and claiming the life of Flight Nurse/Paramedic Allan Williams. Williams served 31 years as a nurse, including 15 years with Vanderbilt LifeFlight, where he completed more than 1,073 missions. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer; their sons Emerson and Sebastian; and his children from his first marriage, Alex and Nathan.
Deputy Justin Mowery, Blount County Sheriff’s Office
On Dec. 28, 2025, Deputy Justin Mowery was pursuing a speeding motorcycle when his vehicle left the roadway and struck a utility pole head-on. Citizens who witnessed the crash attempted lifesaving measures, but Mowery succumbed to his injuries. He began his career as a security guard at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. After joining the Blount County Sheriff’s Office, he served as a SWAT Breacher Team member, field training officer, and deputized member of the U.S. Marshals Smokey Mountain Fugitive Task Force. He is survived by his mother, Donna; his brother, Jarod; and extended family.
Deputy Derrick Bonham, Weakley County Sheriff’s Office
On Jan. 30, 2026, Deputy Derrick Bonham was fatally shot while assisting the Martin Police Department with a shots‑fired investigation. Bonham received immediate aid from responding officers and was transported to West Tennessee Healthcare, where he succumbed to his injuries. Bonham had served nearly two years with the Weakley County Sheriff’s Office after graduating from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy in 2023. Before entering law enforcement, he honorably served in the United States Army. He is survived by his wife, Nicole, and their three young children.
Correctional Officer Dustin Pedigo, Tennessee Department of Corrections – Morgan County Correctional Complex
Correctional Officer Dustin Pedigo was fatally stabbed by an inmate on Feb. 25, 2026, while carrying out his duties at Morgan County Correctional Complex. At the time, Pedigo was also pursuing a bachelor’s degree in sociology at East Tennessee State University. Known for his gentle and kind nature, Pedigo cared deeply for both coworkers and inmates, treating everyone with patience and dignity. He is survived by his wife, Jade; his parents, Ken and Karen; his sister, Kerri; his brother-in-law, Tyler; and extended family.
Deputy Landon Faulkner, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office
On April 8, 2026, Deputy Landon Faulkner was critically injured when his patrol vehicle collided with a disabled truck on the highway. He succumbed to his injuries two days later. Faulkner was dedicated to law enforcement from a young age, beginning with the Knoxville Police Explorer Cadet Program and later serving as a corrections deputy and patrol deputy in Grundy County before joining the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office in 2022. Known for his professionalism and commitment to public service, he is survived by his wife, Megan, and their four young children.
Officer Ryan Berg, Chattanooga Police Department
While responding to a shots-fired call on Dec. 28, 2025, Chattanooga Police Department Officer Ryan Berg sustained gunshot wounds to his nose, cheek, left hand, and left forearm. The suspect fled but was later apprehended. While some officers pursued the suspect, others provided lifesaving care and transported Berg to the hospital, where he received emergency treatment. Since the shooting, Berg has undergone numerous surgeries, but his injuries prevent him from able to return to duty as a police officer.
The “Three Stars of Tennessee Award” was created by the Tennessee General Assembly in 2014 to honor public servants who were killed or suffered a career-ending injury in the line of duty. Senator Massey spearheaded this effort following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. The “Three Stars of Tennessee Award” is managed by the Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s Office of Homeland Security.
The “Three Stars of Tennessee Award” ceremony is available to watch on the Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s YouTube page, youtube.com/@Safety.