Robert Goodner
Former Assistant Director of Public Safety
2006 - 2007
Lt. Colonel Robert Goodner, a career Alabama state trooper, was named assistant director of the Department of Public Safety Dec. 1, 2006, upon his promotion to lieutenant colonel by Colonel J. Christopher Murphy.
Goodner joined Public Safety as a trooper cadet in 1981, and was sworn in as a state trooper in 1985. He served in the Highway Patrol Division assigned to patrol duties until 1993, when he was promoted to corporal and assigned to the Birmingham Post. He was promoted to sergeant in 1997, and two years later was promoted to lieutenant, in which capacity he served as operations coordinator for the Highway Patrol Division. In 2003, Goodner was promoted to captain, assigned as district commander of Troop C, in which position he commanded the North Alabama Tactical and Special Operations team.
A 16-year military reservist in the U.S. Marine Corps and Army, he served as platoon commander during Desert Storm, attached to the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment. He also has served as company commander and aide-de-camp to the Alabama adjutant general.
Goodner is a graduate of Troy University, the FBI National Academy, and the Alabama Military Academy. He and his wife, Michelle, are the parents of three children, Taylor, Chase and Gi-Gi.