About Volunteer Driving Academy
Patrick Torkelson, our Co-Founder and Partner of Volunteer Driving Academy, has been a resident of Knoxville since his retirement from the U.S. Marine Corps in 2010.
Patrick enlisted in the Marines in 1990, where he served 20 years as a Military Policeman and Marine Corps Recruiter. He was deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2004 to 2006. During his distinguished service, Patrick also earned a Bachelor's degree.
From 2012 to 2023, Patrick worked at Knox County Schools (KCS) as a 5th-grade elementary teacher and a 6th-grade Mathematics teacher. During his time at KCS, Patrick earned his Masters and Educational Specialist degrees.
Patrick also served part-time as a Tennessee state-certified driving instructor since 2017 and has been a member of ADTSEA (American Driver Training & Safety Education Association) since 2019.
Patrick has been married to his wife, Colleen, since 1995, and they have three sons: Steven, Daniel, and Zachariah.
Daniel Torkelson, our Co-Founder and Partner of Volunteer Driving Academy, LLC., has been a Knoxville resident since 2010. Daniel is an alumnus of Powell High School and served in the U.S. Air National Guard from 2018 to 2024. Daniel became a Tennessee state-certified driving instructor in 2024 and has been a member of ADTSEA (American Driver Training & Safety Education Association) since 2025.
Zachariah Torkelson, our Co-Founder and Partner at Volunteer Driving Academy, LLC., has been a Knoxville resident since 2010. He is an alumnus of Powell High School and successfully completed the Industrial Electricity program at Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT). Since 2023, Zachariah has been serving as a Tennessee state-certified driving instructor and has been a member of ADTSEA (American Driver Training & Safety Education Association) since 2025.
Steven Torkelson, our Co-Founder and Partner of Volunteer Driving Academy, LLC., has been a Knoxville resident since 2010. Steven is an alumnus of Powell High School and has served as a Tennessee state-certified driving instructor since 2021 and has been a member of ADTSEA (American Driver Training & Safety Education Association) since 2022. He is currently finishing his studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
