Gary is a decorated veteran of the United States Air Force, having retired after 22 years of active-duty service. During his military career, he served as the Superintendent of the Center for Character Development at the United States Air Force Academy, where he was the primary instructor and curriculum developer of undergraduate human relations and character education for the 4,000 Air Force Cadets as well as the Equal Opportunity and Human Relations Officer for the Center’s staff. He also served as liaison to the Academy’s leadership on matters of morale, welfare, and organizational culture and provided corrective action recommendations to senior leaders. Gary was honored to be selected as a guest lecturer at the United States Naval Academy on topics concerning human relations, inclusive leadership, and character development in the U.S. military and was also selected as one of only four visiting military advisors to the Slovenia Military Academy to address integration issues effecting that institution.
Following his retirement from the USAF, Gary entered the realm of postsecondary education and has held several key senior leadership positions ranging from College President to the Executive Director of a state association. Gary has also worked closely with state and federal legislators and collaborated with the Tennessee Higher Education Commission in defining and addressing educational and workforce development issues across the state. His expertise and dedication to educational issues on a state and federal level has allowed him the opportunity to provide testimony before the Tennessee House and Senate Education Committees as well as before the Joint Government Operations Committee on matters effecting education and workforce development policies. Gary has been afforded the opportunity to serve as a special advisor to the Governor’s Veterans’ Education Taskforce and Drive to 55 Taskforce, and an advisor to the Tennessee Higher Education Authorization working group.
In 2017, Gary accepted the position as inaugural Director of Campus Success & Strategic Initiatives at the University of North Georgia. In this position he has had an essential impact on the development of an environment in which the entire campus community is responsible for institutional effectiveness, student success, and positive student outcomes. In 2024, Gary accepted his current position as the Vice President of Research for Pathway 2 Careers.
Additionally, Gary serves as the President of the National Association of Branch Campus Administrators, is a Board member of the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation, and a member of Peach State Federal Credit Union’s Advisory Board.
Education
Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.), Vanderbilt University, Higher Education Leadership and Policy
Doctorate in Management (D.M.), University of Phoenix, Organizational Leadership
Master of Education (M.Ed.), Boston University, Counseling Psychology
Bachelor of Science (B.S.), University of Maryland, Psychology
