Tonya G. Chapman

On April 16, 2020, Tonya Chapman was appointed to serve as Chair of the Virginia Parole Board. Chair Chapman’s professional career in law enforcement and public safety spans almost 30 years. Prior to her appointment, she worked with the International Association of Chiefs of Police and previously served as a Chief of Police, becoming the first African American female police chief of a municipal police department in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In January 2014, Governor McAuliffe appointed Ms. Chapman to serve as Deputy Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security. Her portfolio included the Virginia Parole Board, Department of Corrections, Virginia State Police, and the Commonwealth‘s Attorneys’ Services’ Council. Prior to receiving a third Deputy Secretary, her portfolio also included the Department of Military Affairs, Department of Fire Programs and the Department of Emergency Management. Prior to her appointment, Chair Chapman served as Deputy Chief of Police and Interim Director for the Department of Social Services in the City of Richmond. She began her career as a police officer in 1989 with the Arlington County Police Department, where she quickly progressed through the ranks becoming Arlington’s first African American female captain in the history of the department, within thirteen years. Chair Chapman earned her Master of Business Administration, Master of Public Administration and her Bachelor of Science degrees all from Virginia Tech. She is currently working on her doctorial dissertation in the PhD program at Virginia Tech. Her field of study is in Public Administration and Public Affairs with a concentration in Homeland Security. Chair Chapman has served on numerous boards and commissions. She currently serves as Chair for the Criminal Justice Services Board and previously served as co-chair of Evidence-Based Decision Making for the Commonwealth. She also served on the Governor’s Commission on Parole Review, Commission on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the Taskforce on Public Safety Preparedness and Response to Civil Unrest, Community Corrections Services Board, Re-Entry and Community Collaboration Council Board, Arlington’s Equal Employment Opportunity Advisory Commission, and co-chair for Offender Population Forecasting Committee for DOC, DJJ, and local/regional jails. She has also served as the past president for the Hampton Roads Chief of Police Association and the past president of the Northern Virginia Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. Chair Chapman has received numerous accolades for her accomplishments in law enforcement to include the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executive’s Civil Rights-Justice By Action Law Enforcement Executive Leadership Award, Delta Sigma Theta Portsmouth Alumnae Chapter’s Community Involvement Award, Omega Psi Phi’s Phenomenal Woman Award, Alpha Phi Alpha’s Humanitarian Award, Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church’s Outstanding Achievement Award for Positive Accomplishments and Dedication to the Community, the Urban League of Hampton Roads Young Professionals Legacies Award, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women’s Outstanding Community Service Award, Portsmouth’s Church and Community in Action Leadership Award, and the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce Leadership Award. She was also featured as a Leading Lady in CoVaBIZ magazine. Chair Chapman grew up in Northern Virginia.