Colonel Matthew Packard started his career with the Colorado State Patrol in 2000 where he first worked with the facilities management group prior to starting his training to become a Colorado State Trooper. He has served in a variety of roles with the Colorado State Patrol, rising through the ranks from field trooper to his appointment in 2017 as the 9th Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. Colonel Packard maintains a commitment to member wellness and service, striving to provide troopers with the resources they need to be successful in both their personal and professional lives. As Colonel Packard leads the organization of more than 1,200 members serving in various roles, he believes in the importance of the agency’s guiding principles of member empowerment, visibility, and engaging the communities they serve.

Colonel Packard holds a bachelor's degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting from the University of Northern Colorado and is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Center of Public Safety School of Police Staff and Command. Colonel Packard serves on the Board of Directors for the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and was elected as the First Vice Chair of the State and Provincial Division in 2020. In 2019, Colonel Packard was appointed as a commissioner for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).