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Massachusetts State Police Lieutenant Colonel Christine Dorian Receives Glass Ceiling Award
Recognition honors distinguished leadership and service at New England Women in Law Enforcement Leadership Conference.
On Friday, October 30, at the annual Women in Law Enforcement Leadership Conference in Westbrook, Connecticut, Massachusetts State Police Lieutenant Colonel Christine Dorian received the New England State Police Administrators Conference (NESPAC) Glass Ceiling Award. The award recognizes female law enforcement leaders for their professional achievements, exceptional leadership, and commitment to mentoring future generations of law enforcement professionals.
“Lieutenant Colonel Dorian has spent more than three decades protecting the people of Massachusetts, breaking barriers and opening doors for the next generation of women in law enforcement,” said Governor Maura Healey. “From her work investigating the Boston Marathon bombings to leading our state’s homeland security efforts, she has taken on some of the toughest challenges in public safety. I’m grateful for her leadership, her commitment to public service and the example she sets for women and girls across Massachusetts. Congratulations to Lieutenant Colonel Dorian on this well-deserved recognition.”
“Lieutenant Colonel Christine Dorian exemplifies the very best of the Massachusetts State Police, and the lasting contributions of women who have helped shape this Department,” said Colonel Geoffrey Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police. “Having risen through the ranks from Trooper to Commander of the Division of Homeland Security and Preparedness, she has built a distinguished career defined by operational excellence, exceptional leadership, unwavering dedication to public service, and a commitment to strengthening our Department and advancing opportunities for others. Her accomplishments have helped advance our mission and paved the way for future generations of Troopers. We are proud to recognize her extraordinary contributions and congratulate her on this well-deserved honor.”
As a 32-year veteran of the Department, Lieutenant Colonel Dorian has served the people of Massachusetts with distinction. As the highest-ranking woman on the Massachusetts State Police, she has served in a variety of roles in the Divisions of Field Services, Forensic Services, Investigative Services, Standards and Training, and Homeland Security and Preparedness.
Lieutenant Colonel Dorian began her career in 1994 as a member of the 72nd Recruit Training Troop, entering the State Police Academy while raising two young children. She began her career in public service working overnight shifts and earning a reputation as a dedicated, dependable Trooper. Over the next three decades, she oversaw complex investigations, commanded around-the-clock operations, supervised sworn and civilian personnel, and led multiple statewide units.
As a Sergeant in the Crime Scene Services Section, Lieutenant Colonel Dorian oversaw critical evidence collection and preservation efforts at major crime scenes throughout the Commonwealth. Her work included supporting the investigation into the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, where she and her colleagues helped ensure the proper collection, preservation, and processing of evidence that contributed to the successful prosecution of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
Following her promotion to Lieutenant, she helped strengthen the Department’s investigative capabilities by expanding DNA collection initiatives and overseeing the statewide implementation of Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS).
As a Captain, she held leadership positions within the State Police Crime Laboratory and the Division of Homeland Security and Preparedness, where she oversaw nine statewide units.
Colonel Noble subsequently promoted her to the rank of Major and appointed her to establish the Department’s Office of Organizational Excellence within the Division of Standards and Training. In that role, she helped develop quality assurance standards and laid the foundation for the Department’s new approach to leadership training, accountability, professional development, and preparing future law enforcement leaders.
In her current role as Commander of the Division of Homeland Security and Preparedness, Lieutenant Colonel Dorian oversees the Commonwealth Fusion Center and leads statewide intelligence and security coordination efforts, including planning for major events such as the Boston Marathon, the FIFA World Cup, and Sail Boston.
Throughout her career, Lieutenant Colonel Dorian has consistently embraced new challenges, demonstrating an ability to lead across diverse and complex law enforcement disciplines. Her achievements set an example for future generations of Troopers, particularly women aspiring to leadership positions, and reflect her unwavering determination to overcome barriers.
The State Police recognizes that building a stronger, more representative workforce begins with encouraging women to consider careers in law enforcement and ensuring they have the opportunity, support, and resources to succeed and advance. For this reason, the Department became the 55th organization in the country to sign onto the 30x30 Initiative in 2021. The 30x30 pledge calls for police organizations to advance the representation of women in policing through recruitment, retention, and professional development. Lieutenant Colonel Dorian’s more than three decades of service demonstrate the opportunities a career in law enforcement can offer, from serving communities and taking on complex challenges to developing as a leader and helping shape the future of the profession. For women considering this career, her journey is an example of what is possible and an invitation to become part of the next generation of Massachusetts State Police leaders.
Lieutenant Colonel Dorian’s service, institutional leadership, and dedication to developing future generations of law enforcement professionals has helped strengthen the Massachusetts State Police. The Department proudly congratulates her on this distinguished and well-deserved recognition.
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