NHTSA Event | Guest Bios

Latest Event

Drive Sober Campaign Kickoff

August 15, 2024

Sergeant Curtis Patterson

DC Fire and EMS Special Operations

Sergeant Curtis Patterson is part of the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department and works at DC’s fire and EMS training center. He helps to equip first responders with the skills needed to respond to impaired-driving crashes and other emergencies. He has responded to countless crashes in his more 12 years with DC Fire and EMS. 

Colonel Matthew Packard

Colorado State Patrol

Colonel Matthew Packard has been with the Colorado State Patrol for nearly 25 years. He began his career as a field trooper and in 2017 became the Chief of the Colorado State Patrol.  

Over the course of his career, Packard has served in several senior leadership roles, including captain to the hazardous materials section, major in the criminal investigations branch and commander of the department’s communications branch. Colonel Packard serves on the executive board of directors for the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Packard is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Center of Public Safety School of Police Staff.

Jerry Ferrara

Actor & Writer

Jerry Ferrara is a writer, producer and actor best known for roles such as Turtle on HBO’s “Entourage,” Joe Proctor on the Starz series “Power,” and many more.  

His “Entourage” character, Turtle, was known for taking care of his friends by driving them safely back home each night out. Ferrara has continued his support for safe driving by echoing the importance of a sober ride home and distracted driving prevention.

Joshua Cagney

Impact Speaker

Joshua Cagney is a founding partner of New Paradigm Recovery, an intensive outpatient program focused on the treatment of alcohol and substance use disorders. He is currently completing his dissertation for a doctorate program in organizational leadership to help guide the mental health program industry with treating clients struggling with addiction. 

Cagney works with MADD and speaks on issues ranging from substance abuse and recovery to the collateral consequences of criminal sentencing.

Alisha Miles

Impact Speaker

Alisha Miles is a 911 dispatch supervisor in Vermont. In May 2023, Miles’ life changed forever when a drunk driver hit her family’s car, driven by her husband, Chad. Their six-year-old daughter, Olivia Miles, was transported to a local hospital where she later died. Alisha was severely injured. After the unimaginable tragedy of losing her daughter, Miles decided to join forces with MADD in an effort to end drunk and impaired driving so that no other family would experience the devastating loss of a child.