Office of the Commissioner

Commissioner Phillip “PJ” Burnett, Jr. is a 28-year veteran of KSP and has served in numerous assignments, including post level uniformed and investigative operations, collision reconstructionist, field training officer, firearms instructor, post commander, operations east troop major, and administration division lieutenant colonel and executive director of the Office of Operations as Unit 1. On Nov. 4, 2020, he was promoted to colonel and acting commissioner
of the agency.

On April 9, 2021, Gov. Andy Beshear announced the appointment of Col. Phillip Burnett Jr. as commissioner of KSP.

Commissioner Burnett is a native of Bell County. He received his bachelor of science degree from Union College, and holds a teaching certification in secondary education. Burnett is also a graduate of the FBI National Executive Institute Session #46. Since serving with KSP, he has received multiple awards including, Post Trooper of the Year, the Citation for Bravery, the Commissioner’s Award, and back-to-back Governor’s Awards for Impaired Driving Enforcement.
He currently resides in Pineville with his wife and two sons.

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Command Staff