Vernon Betkey began his tenure as the as the National Law Enforcement Liaison Program Manager for the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) in 2013. Within that role, he is responsible for promoting national highway safety programs, enhancing communications between LELs, ensuring greater coordination of LEL activities nationwide, and providing technical assistance to LELs.
Betkey retired from the Maryland State Police in 1998 after more than 25 years of service, where he held a variety of positions and commands including extensive work in highway safety enforcement and behavioral programs. After retirement, he spent time as both Chief of Staff for the Maryland Transportation Authority Police and Law Enforcement Liaison for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Region III Office in Baltimore. From there, he moved on to lead the Maryland Highway Safety Office (MHSO), managing the statewide highway safety behavioral education and countermeasure programs, the Safe Routes to School Program, and the Maryland Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP).
Betkey has served on several prominent boards in the highway safety community, including 8 years on GHSA’s Executive Board, four of which were spent as the Association’s Chairman. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland University College, the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command, the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Course, and the Maryland State Police Academy.