Matthew Fagiana
Instructor
Matthew Fagiana retired from the Loudon County Sheriff's Office in May 2022 as a Patrol Sergeant, d’facto Patrol Captain, and Public Information Officer, following 22 years of distinguished service in law enforcement. His career began in 2000 with the Gatlinburg Police Department before he transitioned to the Tennessee Highway Patrol shortly after the events of 9/11.
Over the course of his career, Matthew held a variety of specialized roles, including serving on the Motor Unit, Crash Reconstruction Team, Riot Squad, Honor Guard, Tennessee Highway Patrol Funeral Detail, the state Critical Incident Stress De-Briefing Team, and the Regional Gang Investigations Unit. In his final years with the Loudon County Sheriff's Office, he was appointed Squad Commander, overseeing the midnight shift operations. In addition to his patrol supervisory responsibilities, Matthew managed the agency's social media presence, coordinated public events, and administered both state and federal grant programs. He also served as the primary point of contact for media relations, handling interviews, news conferences, and media inquiries.
Matthew is a highly experienced trainer and consultant in crisis communications,
media relations, and brand management for law enforcement agencies. His expertise has been honed through years of serving as the agency's Public Information Officer and leading public-facing communications efforts. He currently serves as an instructor for the FBI-LEEDA, where he delivers training to law enforcement executives nationwide on these critical subjects.
In addition to his work in communications and leadership, Matthew serves as an Academy Instructor, overseeing scenario-based training, and as an assistant instructor for Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) at the Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy in East Tennessee. He has also been a Teaching Associate for the University of Tennessee's Law Enforcement Innovation Center (LEIC), instructing courses on Cultural Competency and Advanced De-escalation Techniques. In 2005 he attended the prestigious Federal Law Enforcement Training Academy (FLETC) where he obtained his Physical Security Specialist Certification. Additionally, Matthew has been featured on several nationally recognized law enforcement podcasts and has contributed to Fox News Digital as a law enforcement expert.
Matthew holds a Bachelor's Degree in Emergency Services Management from Bethel University and is a licensed Advanced Emergency Medical Technician. Beyond his law enforcement career, he served as Chairman of the Loudon County Local Emergency Planning Commission from 2016 to 2022. His leadership and community involvement earned him recognition as one of Knoxville Business Journal's "Top 40 Under 40" in 2017, and in 2021 he was named Patrol Supervisor of the Year by Sheriff Tim Guider.
Currently residing in Niceville, FL, Matthew is a proud husband to an active-duty Special Forces Army doctor and a "dog dad" to two. He enjoys international travel, flying as an FAA-licensed private pilot, and passionately cheering on the University of Tennessee Volunteers.