Panel will Independently Review Virginia Tech Tragedy

The Virginia State Police have closed their on-scene phase of the Virginia Tech investigation.

Photo: Virginia Tech University

(RICHMOND) - Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today provided additional information on the scope and timeline of the independent review of the circumstances surrounding Monday’s tragedy at Virginia Tech.

The review panel, which will be led by retired Virginia State Police Superintendent Col. Gerald Massengill, also will include former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge; nationally-recognized experts in higher education and mental health also have agreed to serve.

“I appreciate the willingness of these individuals to lend their time and expertise to this critically important review of the recent terrible events at Tech,” Governor Kaine said. “This panel will provide a thoughtful, objective analysis of the circumstances leading up to, during, and immediately after Monday’s horrible events. What we learn could result in fresh ideas that will help bolster the safety of our young people on campuses in communities across the country.”

Governor Kaine said the panel would begin its work as soon as possible, and it is anticipated a preliminary review could be completed by this fall.

The Governor announced these panel members today. Additional members could be announced later:

Retired Virginia State Police Superintendent Col. Gerald Massengill will chair the panel. He led the state's law-enforcement response to the September 11, 2001 attack on the Pentagon in Northern Virginia and the 2002 sniper attacks. Massengill retired in 2003 after 37 years in the Virginia State Police, and came out of retirement in 2005 to serve as interim director of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries for 18 months.

Tom Ridge served as the first U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security (2003-2005). He previously served as Governor of Pennsylvania (1995-2001) and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1983-1995). He currently consults on a variety of national and international issues.

Gordon Davies served as Director for the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia for 20 years (1977-1997). He previously served as President of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (1998-2002), and recently directed a project to improve state higher education policy making.

Roger L. Depue, Ph. D., has over 20 years experience at the FBI, most recently as Administrator at the FBI National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime. Depue is the founder, past president and CEO of The Academy Group, Inc., a forensic behavioral sciences services business for consultation, research, training, and investigation of aberrant and violent behavioral problems.

Aradhana A. “Bela” Sood, M.D., FAACAP is Chair of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Medical Director of the Virginia Treatment Center for Children at VCU Medical Center.

Dr. Marcus L. Martin is the Assistant Dean for the School of Medicine at the University of Virginia. He is also a professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine. Martin previously served as the Chairman for the Health System at the University of Virginia, Department of Emergency Medicine.