>> GEORGIA MILITARY COLLEGE
Georgia Military College (GMC) appointed Jackie Lee as the new chief of police on March 27.
“I am excited and truly blessed to be chosen as the next campus police chief for Georgia Military College,” Lee said in a press release. “In my 20 years, I have been blessed to work with such a wonderful group of staff and faculty. I look forward to serving and protecting the staff, faculty, and students here at GMC for many years.”
Lee has over 20 years of law enforcement experience at GMC. She began as a security officer and was later promoted to security lieutenant after becoming Peace Officer Standards & Training certified. Lee served as the campus police lieutenant, and eventually as captain of the GMC police force working under former Chief James Hodnett. After his retirement in late 2022, Lee was named interim chief of police and has been officially promoted as the chief of police.
“Chief Lee is an absolute professional. She is what we describe as a servant leader,” said Col. Nelson Kraft, executive director for GMC’s main campus. “Servant leadership is a desire to serve others without any praise or acclaim for oneself. A servant leader is someone who cares about their community and wants to make the community better by being able to take action in a civil and respectful manner.”
Kraft describes Lee as a sincere and caring individual with safety as their utmost priority for the college. Service leadership is a curriculum that GMC teaches to every student and Kraft praised Lee as the perfect example of a servant leader and role model for the students.
“She teaches our students about civility and respect for others,” said Kraft. “She loves our students from kindergartners to college students. And our students adore her. Everyone on campus can depend on her.”
Alongside her role in law enforcement, Lee is an adjunct instructor and teaches criminal justice classes for GMC Junior College. Kraft describes Lee as a focused and understanding teacher. Her lessons are created in a way that allows topics to be broken down and understood by a wide range of learners and Lee encourages students to interact and ask questions.
“Lee builds relationships with the students in and out of the classroom. There is not a single person on this campus that could not approach her to ask a question or for help,” said Kraft. “She knows how to teach and send students out the door able to teach others. She is awesome.”
According to Kraft, GMC will be starting a new program called the Georgia Public Safety Leadership Institute that will be offered to GMC Junior College’s Corp of Cadets where the program will be a pioneer to “backing the blue to the ultimate level.” It will be a two year program where cadets will be taught how to be the best peace officers for the state of Georgia.
“With that in mind, our chief of police has to be of the utmost standards and professionalism, kindness and civility.
Lee emulates that and will be a role model for this upcoming program,” said Kraft.
Upon former Chief Hodnett’s retirement, Lee had a four month interim position to prepare for becoming the permanent chief. According to Kraft, Lee was outstanding in the interim position and was beyond prepared before entering that four month period.
“That interim time period only solidified our judgment to promote her to chief of police,” said Kraft. “She is doing fantastic as chief.”
In her new role, Lee oversees all of GMC Campus Police and is responsible for ensuring the safety and security of the GMC community. According to Kraft, Lee will work closely to partner with local law enforcement agencies and other community partners to ensure campus safety and stated that she has exceeded expectations already.
“We are delighted to have Jackie Lee as the permanent chief of police at Georgia Military College,” said Lieutenant General William B. Caldwell, IV, USA (Ret), president of Georgia Military College in a press release. “Her experience, leadership, and commitment to excellence make her the best candidate to lead our police force and ensure the safety of our students, faculty, and staff.
Lee’s new position became effective as of March 27 and she continues to make a grand impact not only as the chief, but as a teacher, role model and mentor to the many students on GMC’s main campus.
“It’s always exciting to see someone in the GMC family move up the ranks and the community outpour of positivity with her promotion has been outstanding,” said Kraft. “I think she will take the awesome job Chief Hodnett did and take it to the next level. I see nothing but positive things for her future as chief of police.”