Commissioner Phillip “PJ” Burnett, Jr. is a 26-year veteran of KSP and has served in numerous assignments including post level uniformed and investigative operations, collision reconstructionist, field training officer, firearms instructor, post commander, operations east troop major, and administration division lieutenant colonel and executive director of the Office of Operations as Unit 1. On Nov. 4, 2020, he was promoted to colonel and acting commissioner of the agency.

On April 9, 2021, Gov. Andy Beshear announced the appointment of Col. Phillip Burnett Jr. as commissioner of KSP. During a ceremony at the Capitol, with his family in attendance, Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary Mary C. Noble swore in Commissioner Burnett.

Commissioner Burnett is a native of Bell County. He received his bachelor of science degree from Union College, where he also holds a teaching certification in secondary education. Since serving with KSP, he has received multiple awards including Post Trooper of the Year, the Citation for Bravery, the Commissioner’s Award and back-to-back Governor’s Awards for Impaired Driving Enforcement. He currently resides in Pineville with his wife and two sons.