Terry to lead UNG’s Cadet Leadership Academy

The University of North Georgia has named retired Lt. Gen. James Terry as the inaugural senior vice president and superintendent of the Cadet Leadership Academy, effective June 24. Additionally, Col. Bryan Kirk will serve as associate vice president and chief of staff of the Cadet Leadership Academy, effective with the start of the fall semester.

“These two leaders will have an immediate and profound impact as we strive to shape the future of our Corps of Cadets,” UNG President Michael Shannon said.

Terry, a native of Chatsworth, Georgia, is an alumnus of Murray County High School. He graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing and management from what was then North Georgia College, now the University of North Georgia. During his time at UNG, he was a member of the Cadet Corps, a Distinguished Military Student and a Distinguished Military Graduate. He commissioned into the Infantry Branch upon graduation in 1978.

Throughout his distinguished military career, Terry commanded at every level from rifle platoon leader to theater army. He has led soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines from multiple nations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. After retiring from the U.S. Army in January 2016 at the rank of lieutenant general, he transitioned to the U.S. defense industry, serving as senior vice president for strategy and business development at Cubic Defense since August 2016.

Terry has remained actively involved with UNG, serving on the University Alumni Council, the Mike Cottrell College of Business Advisory Board and the Cadet Corps Advisory Council. He holds a Master of Arts in business administration from Webster University and a Master of Science in national security strategy and policy from the U.S. National Defense University.

Kirk will retire as a special forces officer with over 27 years of U.S. Army service in July. He is a graduate of Campbell University in North Carolina, where he commissioned and earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics. He holds Master of Science degrees in strategic studies (Army War College) and national security and strategic studies (Naval War College) and a Master of Arts in liberal arts (LSU).

Prior to his assignment at UNG as the professor of military science in 2021, he served in Special Operations units and deployed worldwide, including commands in 3rd and 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). Before UNG, he most recently served as director of operations for the Theater Special Operations Command in Tampa, Florida.

Kirk is a graduate of the Armor Officer Basic Course and Infantry Advanced Course; Special Forces Assessment and Qualification Course; Ranger Course; and College of Naval Command and Staff.

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