Richard Fambro, Retired Colonel, Ohio State Highway Patrol, winner of the 2023 AAMVA Lifetime Achievement in Highway Safety–Law Enforcement

How and why did you get into law enforcement?

I just love people and one day I did a rudimentary Gantt chart, believe it or not, sitting at my desk after hearing a recruiting advertisement for the Columbus, Ohio, division of police. Everything on my Gantt chart came back to people so I ended up going down to apply to be a Columbus police officer.

What has your career journey been like?

Number one, I was really fortunate to have great mentors and great friends and developed a lot of family along my 32-year journey, being a trooper.

I got to do things that I never thought I’d get a chance to do—being a spokesperson for our public affairs unit, working in a district in field operations, criminal patrol and overseeing the drug interdiction efforts for the Highway Patrol. I appreciated the opportunity to do different things in my career, it keeps you fresh in your mind and stretches your imagination from a growth perspective.

What traffic safety initiatives have you worked on?

We were focused getting back to using data to drive our operations during my time as colonel with patrol. I’m really proud of the work that we did in getting back to the basics when it came to using data.

And then, diversity, equity and inclusion was always a passion of mine, making sure that we established really good working and core relationships with our partners, both on the law enforcement and traffic safety side.

How does it feel to be honored with the AAMVA Lifetime Achievement Award?

There are so many valuable leaders in the law enforcement realm that are more deserving of this than me. So, I’m humbled. It’s an honor when you have the privilege to work with some of the best leaders in law enforcement this world has to offer and there are people within that realm that see that you’re deserving of an award as prestigious as this.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I like to run and work out. I also love cars, so I spend time polishing and caring for my cars that I’ve collected over the years. My girlfriend and I have five dogs; we’re pet parents, and we enjoy hanging out with our pups.

Larry Boivin , Chief Driver License Examiner, Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and Winner of the 2023 AAMVA Lifetime Achievement Award in Highway Safety—Motor Vehicle Administration

How long have you been working in the highway safety industry?

I started in February 1989, so almost 35 years. I actually went to school for broadcast communications and spent the first eight years of my professional life working in broadcasting. I’ve always had an interest in not only writing, but in speaking to groups and so forth. That is, in an odd way, how I ended up with a motor vehicle career.

What accomplishments from your career are you most proud of?

One of the things that I was proud of was the ability to integrate modern technology into our operating systems in the ‘90s. I was also involved in the integration of a whole new computer system for the main DMV. Additionally, I’ve taken a lot of pride in seeing a folks be able to rise in the industry.

What has your involvement with AAMVA been like?

I was able to be involved with AAMVA in a number of different ways. I helped develop the testing program that ultimately has been used for the commercial driver license program. I’ve worked with people in most every jurisdiction because of AAMVA—not only developing the CDL testing program, but also updating and modernizing the program as the years went by. As a result, I’ve been able to travel all over the country to meet partners in all different states.

How does it feel to be honored with the AAMVA Lifetime Achievement Award?

Well, to say that I’m humbled would not adequately address how I feel about it, and I am obviously deeply grateful. I’ve been so fortunate. I’m just so honored. I’ve had many people inside and outside of the industry congratulate me and it has been very humbling.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love gardening with my wife, it’s good exercise and you get to see the fruits of your labor. We have a variety of different gardens on our property. I also love playing around on my tractor and fishing.