Lieutenant General William B. Caldwell IV, USA (Ret) announced Aug. 26, his plan to retire as 21st president of Georgia Military College to focus on his “next season in life.” Looking back, Caldwell said his “love for the institution has grown with time.”
Caldwell transitioned from the military to education 11 years ago. He applied for the GMC presidency in the summer of 2013 after a friend suggested he would make a good fit. Considering his military experience and accomplishments, the GMC board agreed and soon approved him.
“God led us to this area,” said Caldwell. “I ran Army education for about two-and-a-half years as one of my last jobs as a three-star, so I was familiar with the education field before applying. Georgia Military College had the 6th- through 12th-grade program and the junior college, which was a perfect fit.”
Upon accepting the position, Caldwell and his wife, Dr. Stephanie Caldwell, bought their first home to permanently live in Milledgeville. From the beginning, Caldwell stated he and his wife agreed to commit to 10 years of service to the institution, and during that decade, Milledgeville became their home.
“I came into the team looking to contribute to the efforts of Georgia Military College. I have been blessed more than I’ve done for the institution because I feel such tremendous satisfaction,” said Caldwell. “I’ve been blessed with an amazing team to work with and a community to be a part of.”
Alongside the community, Caldwell stayed involved with the school directly as a parent. He had one to three children in the school at any given time and stayed active in afterschool activities, classwork, and more. Instead of viewing the institution only from an administrative perspective, Caldwell had the unique capability to look at issues from a student and family viewpoint, simultaneously.
“I saw the product of our students each night, at activities and games, ceremonies, and more. It was a blessing to allow my kids to finish their middle and high school years at the preparatory school,” said Caldwell. “When we moved here, GMC had the phrase ‘Be all in.’ What has made this institution today is investing in the community and the institution as a whole.”
Regarding his decision to step down, Coldwell said he simply knew, “it was time for the next season of life.”
“Steph and I told the Board of Trustees that we would commit to 10 years and invest ourselves into the institution. As we approached the 10-year point, I told her wanted to step away when the institution is financially sound, has a great leadership team, has great activities taking place, and has a strong strategic plan in place,” he explained.
“The leadership team in place today is the best it’s been since I have been here. They are cohesive and tight and work together as a family. That’s because there are three key leaders over the preparatory school, the junior college, and the four-year college,” said Caldwell. “If I were to walk out tomorrow, the school would be prepared to function and take initiative because of that strong leadership.”
Caldwell also said he believes the transition to the next president will be smooth since discussions have already begun on how to handle things. Plus, the GMC board of trustees has ample time to find a replacement once more with a military background.
“Whoever comes in next will be the right person,” said Caldwell. “I trust the process that was used to select me, and it will be used to select the next president. As long as they are all in and have a heart for the students, they will make a lasting impact on the future of this institution.”
Once the next president is selected and ready to assume their duties, Caldwell also said he intends to help in any way he can.
“I will assist in that transition in whatever way the future president asks of me,” said Caldwell. “Steph and I are both committed to ensuring a smooth transition.”
After the transition, Caldwell and his wife plan to stay in Milledgeville and continue to support Georgia Military College and the community. Caldwell stated he intends to be a “model past president cheerleader,” who supports the school upon request with direct needs, and through actively backing the new president.
“I’m going to be a great supporter and cheerleader for whatever the institution is doing, even if it may not be something I would have done,” said Caldwell.
“I also want to be able to assist in direct ways, such as substitute teaching or showing up where they need additional support. But above that, I want to be a coach and mentor for young people in our community,” he added.
While Caldwell could not offer specifics on his plans for the future, he stated that he plans to support his wife and her endeavors, just as she has done for him over the past decade.
“This next season will be all about supporting Steph and her goals and finding new ways I can make an impact on a person’s life,” he said.