Master of Public Safety student Robert Ham just added another accolade to his impressive resume with the recent announcement that he is a recipient of the Lexipol Public Safety Fellowship. This scholarship was awarded for the summer 2024 term to selected Master of Public Safety (MPS) students at UVA’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies. Recipients demonstrated academic strength, outstanding leadership qualifications within their community and/or professional role and prior work experience as a public safety professional or an interest in public safety leadership with goals to pursue or advance a career in the field.
The Lexipol Public Safety Fellowship was created in 2022 and supported by a generous gift from Reneé and Gordon Graham. Gordon is a former California Highway Patrol officer who now serves as an attorney, public safety educator and adjunct professor at the University of Virginia. He cofounded Lexipol in 2003 with a vision of a better and safer way to run a public safety agency. Today, the organization serves more than two million public safety and government professionals with a range of information and technological risk management solutions to meet the challenges facing these industries.
“The Lexipol Fellowship is an incredible opportunity for MPS students and another way that Gordon Graham continues to give to public safety in America,” said Bryon Gustafson, Senior Director of Public Safety Programs at UVA. “I cannot overstate Gordon’s reach and impact on the tens of thousands of public safety leaders working in communities across the nation. The fact that he’s here on faculty at UVA and funding scholarships for our students is just a wonder and a delight. I couldn’t be more humbled and grateful. The Grahams are a national treasure.”
For Captain Ham, a Bridgewater resident and longtime employee of the Law Enforcement Division of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (VDWR), the prestigious fellowship is not the first award he has garnered in over two decades of public safety experience. Ham is also a previous recipient of the Central Shenandoah Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Administrator Award and the Colonel’s Leadership Award from VDWR.
“Lexipol and Mr. and Mrs. Graham have done tremendous things for the public safety community,” stated Ham. “Being a Lexipol Public Safety Fellow means a great deal to me on both a professional and personal level. Professionally, it signifies a recognition of my dedication and contributions to public safety over the years. Personally, being a Lexipol Fellow aligns with my passion for continuous learning and improvement.”
Public safety has been a central part of his adult life, according to Ham, a husband and father of four children, with ages ranging from seven to 18. He believes the fellowship will assist in deepening his understanding of the complexities of public safety administration and meaningfully contribute to the advancement of efficient practices in the field.
These goals directly relate to Ham’s current position in the Office of Professional Standards with VDWR, where he oversees accreditation efforts, strategic planning, risk management and a peer support program. In addition, the goals link to his service with the Bridgewater Volunteer Rescue Squad, where he has been a member for 23 years. Ham has an extensive background in volunteer EMS, possessing the EMT-Advanced certification by the Virginia Office of EMS, where he held the position of chief of operations for nine years and president of the organization for four years.
“My experiences in these diverse roles have fueled my desire to learn more about public safety administration and how to implement effective changes,” said Ham. “I had been considering a public administration program for many years, and when I discovered the MPS program, I knew it was the perfect fit for my career goals. Being involved in accreditation, a coworker in the accreditation community mentioned the program to me, and we started it together.”
Ham, who began his pursuit of the MPS degree in fall 2023, said that the biggest takeaway from his classes, so far, is viewing things from different perspectives. “Taking the courses and intertwining them into my daily work, I am impressed with how much of the content I am taking back and applying right away. From risk management plans, policy analysis strategies to ideas for better community engagement.”
Contributing so much already to his home area in the Shenandoah Valley and the Commonwealth at large, Ham also has a national platform to speak and teach through his role as the assistant program director of the North American Wildlife Law Enforcement Accreditation program, helping to develop a national accreditation standard for natural resources law enforcement. He said his career aspirations are to use his position as an opportunity to advocate for best practices in law enforcement for conservation activities in Virginia and nationally. “I believe that this combination of practical experience and academic knowledge from the MPS program will empower me to make a substantial impact in the field.”
Interested individuals or groups who might be inspired by Gordon and Reneé Graham’s donation can make a gift, big or small, in support of the Lexipol Public Safety Fellowship and/or other funds for deserving students like Captain Ham on the SCPS website.
“Reneé and I are honored to have an impact on the future of law enforcement by supporting UVA students through Lexipol’s Public Safety Fellowship,” said Graham. “Captain Ham represents the qualities that underpin Lexipol’s mission: a commitment to continuous quality improvement in public safety and to enhancing performance excellence in individuals and organizations.”