2024 IACP Vice President at Large Candidate

Chief Blair Myhand, Hendersonville Police Department (NC)

Blair Myhand began his public safety career in 1987, when he joined the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 3^rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard). The Old Guard is the Army’s official escort to the President of the United States. Later, he served in both the Virginia and North Carolina Army National Guards until retiring in 2011 as an Infantry First Sergeant. His service includes two combat tours; one each to Afghanistan and Iraq. Most notably, he is a recipient of the Bronze Star, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, and the Army Commendation Medal for Heroism on September 11, 2001.

He began his law enforcement career in 1994, with the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, DC. He was assigned to the Third District and later to the Emergency Response Team. He joined the Apex Police Department in Apex, North Carolina in 2005, where he served several assignments and ultimately commanded every division. He was hired as Chief of Police for the Clayton, NC Police Department in 2017, gaining hard-earned experience during his tenure.  

Over his career, Blair has participated in many national and international events such as: the Million Man March, Presidential Inaugurations, Y2K, several high-profile protests, and international terrorism incidents. Most notably, he was one two officers who were the first Metropolitan Police Officers to enter the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, only minutes after the attack.

Blair has a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from Waldorf College and a Master of Public Administration from Villanova University. He is a graduate of the 252^nd Session of the FBI National Academy. He is an active member for the North Carolina FBI National Academy Associates and the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police where he served as the 2023 President for both associations the same year. He is the current co-chair for the Civilian Law Enforcement Military Cooperation Committee (CLEMCC) and a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) since 2014.

In February 2021, Blair became the Chief of Police for the Hendersonville Police Department in Hendersonville, North Carolina. He leads a staff of 75 employees and manages a $7m annual budget. Blair is happily married to his wife Nana. Together, with their Sheltie, named Tam, they live in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina. Blair enjoys living and working in a supportive department and community.