Francis Noonan
20th Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police
In office
Acting: January 18, 2011 – April 12, 2011
April 12, 2011 – August 3, 2015
GovernorTom Corbett
Preceded byFrank Pawlowski
Succeeded byTyree Blocker
Personal details
EducationWest Chester University of Pennsylvania
ProfessionLaw enforcement
NicknameFrank
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Marine Corps
RankLance Corporal
Battles/warsVietnam War

Francis (Frank) Noonan was formerly State Police Commissioner for the Pennsylvania State Police.[1] Noonan began his career in 1971 as an agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Following his retirement from the FBI in 1998, Noonan was appointed as Northeast Regional Director for the Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics Investigation. After 11 years as Regional Director, Noonan was promoted to Chief of Criminal Investigations for the Office of Attorney General in July 2009.

Noonan was nominated by Governor Tom Corbett on January 18, 2011,[2] to be Commissioner of Pennsylvania State Police and was confirmed by the Pennsylvania State Senate on April 12, 2011.[3]

Noonan served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. He was awarded a Bronze Star for his service.[4]

He is a graduate of West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

Military career

Noonan served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.

Law enforcement career

Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police

On January 18, 2011 Noonan was appointed as the commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police by Governor Tom Corbett.[5]

2014 barracks attack

See also: 2014 Pennsylvania State Police barracks attack

Noonan and the state police were thrown into the international spotlight after two Troopers were shot outside a State Police barracks in Pike County. Noonan became a national household name after speaking at daily press conferences after the shooting and during the subsequent man hunt for Eric Frein. On September 14, two days after the attack Noonan asked for additions man power and assets from state police agencies in New York and New Jersey. By mid-day on the 15th Noonan had been in touch with numerous federal police agencies and had been talking with high ranking officials within the United States Marshals Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.[6][7]

Noonan continued his media appearing focusing on the suspect, his motive, the state police's response and information on the families involved to national and international media.

Awards and honors

Military citations

Civilian/law enforcement awards

References

  1. ^ "Colonel Frank Noonan- Commissioner Pennsylvania State Police". Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on 2014-12-23. Retrieved 2014-12-09.
  2. ^ "Colonel Frank Noonan". www.psp-hemc.org. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  3. ^ https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/RC/2011/S0054.pdf
  4. ^ Governor Corbett Picks Noonan as New Commissioner of PSP MPOETC Newsletter, Volume 34, Issue 1, March 2011. Retrieved 12-08-2014.
  5. ^ JACKSON, PETER. "4 Pa. troopers receive highest state police honor". The Times Herald. Associated Press. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  6. ^ Ed Payne; Joshua Berlinger. "Pennsylvania trooper dies in shooting; one wounded". CNN. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  7. ^ "Ambush of Pennsylvania state troopers leaves one dead, one injured". The Guardian. Associated Press. 2014-09-13. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-04-19.


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