Vernon currently holds the position of Lead Chaplain and serves as the Director of Chaplain Services and Peer Support Unit with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. He has a Doctorate in Ministry in Pastoral Counseling and an EdS in Community Care and Counseling: Traumatology from Liberty University. He is a Clinical Pastoral Therapist, Marriage & Family Therapist, and Board-Certified Christian Counselor.
Vernon is certified in crisis response, compassion fatigue, mindfulness, and emotional intelligence. He has extensive training in suicide prevention, critical incident stress, and peer support, and serves as the founder and president of Critical Aspects, Inc., a nonprofit focused on law enforcement wellness.
As host of the Critical Aspects of Law Enforcement podcast, he advocates for breaking the stigma surrounding mental health in public safety.