SC Highway Patrol Announces New Troop 2 Commander, As Current Commander is Promoted to Major

For Immediate Release 
February 26, 2026 
Contact: Kyle McGahee, Office of Public Affairs, 803-896-8747

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety has promoted Joseph T. Morf to serve as Major of Headquarters Field Support for the South Carolina Highway Patrol, and Joey C. Gambrell to serve as commander of Troop 2.

Morf has served as the Troop 2 Commander since 2019. He was promoted to Major to succeed Major M.J. Gamble, who announced his retirement from the Highway Patrol after nearly 40 years of dedicated service. Major Morf will oversee Headquarters Field Support, which includes the Area Coordinated Enforcement (ACE) Team, the Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT), the Insurance Enforcement Unit, and Special Operations Unit.

A native of Woodruff, Major Morf has 26 years of law enforcement experience with the Highway Patrol, serving nearly all of it in Troop 2. Prior to joining the Highway Patrol, he served more than four years in the U.S. Air Force, achieving the rank of Senior Airman. He began his career as a trooper in 2000 and was first promoted to Corporal in 2011. From there, he ascended the ranks to Lieutenant in 2017 and was named Troop 2 commander in November 2019. He graduated from the FBI National Academy in 2022, and the School of Police Staff and Command in 2016.

 Succeeding Morf as Troop 2 commander is Captain Joey C. Gambrell, who previously served as Lieutenant for Troop 2. A native of Edgefield, Captain Gambrell was a sheriff’s deputy in Aiken County for two years before joining the Highway Patrol in 1999, where he was assigned to Troop 7. He rose through the ranks there, achieving the rank of First Sergeant in 2015 before being transferred to Troop 2 in 2017. He was named Lieutenant of Field Operations for Troop 2’s Post A (Laurens & Newberry) & Post C (Edgefield, McCormick, Saluda) in 2019 and has been serving in that capacity since then. Troop 2 provides service to Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Newberry and Saluda counties. Gambrell is a graduate of the FBI-LEEDA Trilogy leadership courses and is an eight-year veteran, serving in both the Army Reserves and SC National Guard.

 “We are thrilled to announce Major Morf as the new Major of Headquarters Field Support,” South Carolina Highway Patrol Colonel Christopher N. Williamson said. “Major Morf has done an outstanding job as Troop 2 commander and brings with him a proven record of leadership and experience to our Blythewood headquarters. Captain Gambrell has undoubtedly earned the rank of Troop 2 commander through his many years of dedicated service and leadership, and I am confident he is ready for this next exciting chapter as he continues to lead and support troopers in his new role.”