Maine State Troopers Foundation
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mark Nickerson - President
Mark was born and raised in Vassalboro in a Maine State Police family. He is the son of Ret. Capt. Millard E. Nickerson, former director of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, who was one of the original Maine State Police detectives formed in 1955.
Mark enlisted in the State Police in 1977 and was assigned to the Moosehead Lake region of Troop C. He became quite proficient in apprehending drunk drivers ending his career with 1,363 OUI arrests. He transferred to Troop D in 1982 living in the Town of Unity. He patrolled most of Waldo County and the eastern portions of Kennebec County. He did a one year assignment as a special Deputy with the U.S. Marshalls office assigned to the Violent Crime Task Force, targeting violent offenders in the central/northern areas of Maine.
Mark retired in 2005 after 28 years with the Maine State Police. He wrote a column for a local Waldo County paper called “Real Life Stories of a Maine State Trooper” for many years. He has served on the board of directors for the Maine State Troopers Foundation since 2007.
Aaron Turcotte - Treasurer
Aaron joined the Maine State Police in 2006 and graduated from the 56th Recruit Training Troop. He was assigned to Troop C, patrolling Franklin, Somerset, and Kennebec Counties, before being promoted to Specialist in the Traffic Safety Unit. In 2018, Aaron was promoted to patrol sergeant, where he supervised troopers in Troop A before transferring to Troop E. After spending three years there, he re-joined the Traffic Safety Unit as the Fleet Manager. In 2023, Aaron was promoted to Lieutenant in the Central Field Troop, where he oversees operations across seven counties. Currently, he is the Commander of the State Police Training Unit and the Office of Professional Development.
Aaron has been a Maine State Troopers Foundation Board member since 2010 and has served as president and treasurer of the Maine State Troopers Association. Additionally, he was a member of Special Olympics Maine for nine years and currently sits on the Galen Cole Foundation.
Darren Foster - Board Member
Darren joined the State Police in 1997 as a member of the 45th training troop. His first patrol was Troop J in Washington county and later returned home to “The County” where he patrolled the southern Aroostook County area.
Darren became a certified Crash Reconstruction Specialist in 2000, and in 2004, he transferred to the Crash Analysis Unit in Augusta, where he was the Assistant Senior Crash Reconstruction Specialist.
In 2010, Darren was promoted to Sergeant overseeing the Crash Analysis Unit and in 2011, he was elected as the Central Vice-President of the Maine State Troopers Association. He has served on the board of directors for the Maine State Troopers Foundation since 2013.
Phil Pushard - Board Member
Philip Pushard is a 28 year veteran of the Maine State Police, beginning in 1986 and retiring in 2013. He started his career in Troop E, Orono and retired as a member from Troop K, Traffic. Phil was a Vice President of the Maine State Troopers Association for the last 10 years of his career.
He currently lives in Brewer with his wife of 26 years and has two sons: one is a junior at Brewer High School and the other is a sophomore at the University of Maine. In retirement, Phil coaches baseball and basketball at Brewer High School.
Keith Frank - Board Member
Keith Frank was an Auburn Police officer for six years before joining the Maine State Police in 1984. Upon graduation he was assigned to Troop C, Skowhegan and patrolled the Franklin County area. After spending 10 years in that area he transferred to the Leeds, Greene area before transferring to Troop B, Gray. In 1989 he joined the State Police Tactical Team for 15 years.
His other specialty was as an Emergency Vehicle Operations Instructor (EVOC) for 20 years, finally retiring in 2008. Keith currently works for Akal Security under the direction of the U.S. Marshall Service as court security in the federal court system in Portland, Maine.
Kevin Conger - Board Member
Kevin Conger joined the Maine State Police in 1984 attending the 38th Training Troop. Upon graduation he was assigned to Troop A, Limington area. In 1995 he was promoted to the rank of Sgt. and was assigned to Troop G, turnpike, and in 2005 he was promoted to Lieutenant in charge of the combined Troops A and B, fondly called the ‘Super Troop’.
He was a certified instructor for EVOC, (Emergency Vehicle Operations Course), Radar, and DRE (Drug Recognition) teaching all these subjects for many years.
Kevin retired in 2007 after serving the citizens of Maine for 23 years. In retirement he was the Chief of the Monmouth Police Dept for a year before being selected as the new Chief of the University of Southern Maine College in Portland, where he currently serves.
Mike Kaspereen - Board Member
Mike is a native of New Jersey and a graduate of Unity College. Mike began his career in 1986 as a member of the 39 Training Troop. Mike was assigned to Troop B and patrolled Oxford and Androscoggin County. Mike was also assigned to Troop G Turnpike, Troop K CVEU and Executive Protection Unit.
A K9 Handler for 15 years while in the State Police, Mike worked 3 dogs. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2000 as the Supervisor, Principal Canine Trainer for the Canine Unit. Mike retired in 2010 after 25 years of service.
Kristopher Kennedy - Board Member
Sgt. Kennedy joined the Maine State Police in 2006 as a member of the 56th RTT. His first assignment was Troop A then Troop G. He was promoted to Major Crime Unit South as a Detective in 2012. In 2018 he was promoted to Sergeant at the Maine State Police Crime Lab. He is currently a Sergeant with Troop G.
Sgt. Kennedy was a member of the Maine State Troopers Association full board for many years before becoming MSTA Treasurer in 2023.
Joseph Bureau - Board Member
Joe joined the Maine State Police in 2006 and was assigned to the 56th Training Troop. Upon graduation, he was assigned to Troop B in Gray and patrolled the Cumberland County area. In 2015 he was promoted to the rank of Corporal in Troop B. In 2019, Joe was promoted to Sergeant in Troop B. Currently he is a patrol supervisor in the Southern Field Troop (formerly Troops A & B).
In 2015, Joe was elected to serve on the Executive Board for the Maine State Troopers Association (MSTA). In 2022 Joe was elected President of MSTA and is presently still serving in that role.