Retired Major General William `Terry` Nesbitt, U.S. Army, was recently sworn in as Georgia Northwestern Technical College’s (GNTC) newest Board of Directors member by Pete McDonald, president of GNTC, at a meeting held on the Gordon County Campus. Nesbitt’s military career began in 1966 when he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in 1967 after he completed Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga. Nesbitt then served in the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in the Republic of Vietnam from 1967 to 1968 and entered the Georgia Army National Guard in 1973

He was appointed Director of the Georgia Office of Homeland Security by Governor Sonny Perdue in 2006 and then appointed Georgia’s Adjutant General by Gov. Perdue in 2007. As Director of Homeland Security, he was responsible for the development of homeland security and emergency management policies and programs for the state, procurement of grants and other funding to support these programs, and for the preparation and execution of plans to respond to emergencies occurring within the state. As Adjutant General, he was responsible for the staffing, training, equipping, and funding of the over 14,000 members of the Georgia National Guard and Georgia State Defense Force. He served as Georgia’s Adjutant General until 2011.

Nesbitt’s prior assignments included: Commander of the multi-service Joint Task Force that supported the G8 Summit at Sea Island, Ga. in 2004, Director of Domestic Operations for the National Guard Bureau in Washington, DC, and Commander of the Georgia Army National Guard.

Awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army and Air Force Commendation Medals, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, Combat Infantryman’s Badge and Parachute Badge.

Nesbitt and his wife Letha have two grown children and two grandchildren. He currently serves as a deacon at Oostanaula Baptist Church

Georgia Northwestern’s Board serves both in a community advisory capacity and in a limited administrative capacity, performing certain oversight responsibilities as designated by State Board policy. The local Board is comprised of 16 members from the business and industrial communities from nine counties in the service area (Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Murray, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield counties). State Board Policy defines the role and responsibilities of the local Board. Board members are selected because of their experience, ability, and dedication to deal with issues that relate to the mission of occupational education and are without contractual, employment, or personal financial investment in the school.

Brian Anderson currently serves as chair of GNTC’s Board of Directors and Jimmy Lester is the current vice-chair of the Board. Chattooga County is represented by Scott Tucker of United Community Bank and Trion School Superintendent Phil Williams. 

Georgia Northwestern Technical College serves Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Murray, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield counties in Georgia with campuses located in Floyd, Gordon, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield counties. Approximately 16,000 people benefit from GNTC’s credit and noncredit programs, making it the largest college in Northwest Georgia and the fifth largest technical college in Georgia.