Corps Advisory Council
Select a name listed below a headshot to read the bio. To learn more about the Corps Advisory Council visit:
CAC Leadership
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Jim Solomon, COL, U.S. Army, Retired, NGC Class of 1975.
CAC Service: 2016-present. Chairman Development Committee 2018-2020; Vice Chair 2020 – 2024. CAC Chairman 2025-present
Career Highlights: Retired from U.S. Army in 2002; 27 years of service. Global responsibilities in command and staff positions spanned from deployable combat units, complex field hospital operations, to the Pentagon. Subsequently held leadership positions within international corporations, privately owned companies, and entrepreneurial startups. Currently, committed to developing capable leaders for future generations as the founding partner for a leader development, executive coaching firm.
Family: Married to Debi, 3 married daughters, 6 grandchildren.
Residence: Garden Ridge, TX
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Dr. Randy Kirner, Class of ‘67 Commissioned Infantry
CAC Service: 2024 – present
Career Highlights: Dr. Kirner’s military service spans five years. CPT, US Army, Ranger, Master Paratrooper, and Pathfinder Detachment Commanding Officer, 101st Airborne Division, Vietnam. 35+ years in business retiring as Corporate Vice President with worldwide responsibilities from International Game Technology - a Fortune 200 company. After retiring, he was elected to the Nevada State Legislature and served as Chair, Commerce and Labor, a member of Ways & Means Committee, and a member of the Education Committee. Other career highlights: Served eight years on the President’s Advisory Council, Oregon Institute of Technology. Dr. Kirner also served on the Nevada State Charter School Authority and is currently a commissioner on the Nevada Commission for Post-Secondary Education.
Family: Married to Peggy Kirner, 2 married children and 5 grandchildren.
Residence: Henderson, NV
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Jim Cravens, MG, U.S. Army, Retired, Class of 1966
CAC Service: 2017-present. Governance Committee 2017-2019, Vice Chairman 2019-2020, Chairman 2020-2023; Immediate Past Chairman 2023-2025; Chair Emeritus 2025-present.
Career Highlights: Commissioned in Air Defense Artillery. Vietnam veteran. Retired in 1998 after 32 years of service. Key positions included CG, Ft Bliss, TX; Commandant, Air Defense Artillery School; Chief Air Defense Artillery; and Chief of Staff, Training and Doctrine Command. After 11 years retired from Lockheed Martin in 2009 as Vice President, LM Programs and President, MEADS International (tri-national program comprised of US, GE, and IT defense industry companies).
Family: Married to Jo Beth (Maret) Cravens, NGC Class of 1965. Two children and three grandchildren.
Residence: Simpsonville, SC
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Aaron Brown, UNG class of 2013
CAC Service: 2022-2025; Secretary 2025-present. Development Committee
Career Highlights: Following graduation from North Georgia, lived and worked in the Washington D.C. beltway with a role focused on fundraising and policy communications during both the 2014 and 2016 elections. Moved back to Georgia to lead a fundraising team for an economic think tank for four years. Currently is a managing consultant and team lead at a national fundraising firm—American Philanthropic—specializing in work with organizations who focus on crafting and advancing public policy.
Family: Married to Caitlin (Chalmers) Brown, UNG class of 2014 and have two young boys.
Residence: Flowery Branch, GA
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CAC Service: 2024-present. Special Projects committee 2024-2025. Chairman Development Committee 2025 to present.
Career Highlights: Commissioned in Military Police Corps. Afghanistan veteran. Retired from the US Army in 2010, with 27 years of service. Multiple command and staff positions from Battalion to Division level to include Joint, Coalition and Interagency. Key positions included Chief of Staff, Georgia Army National Guard; Director of the Joint Staff, Georgia National Guard; Deputy Commander-Support, Combined Joint Task Force-Phoenix VIII, Afghanistan. Subsequently served as a senior analyst in the US Army Aviation TRADOC Program Office, Fort Rucker, AL 2012-2016. Served as a senior investigator for CACI in Albuquerque, NM and Atlanta, GA 2016 to 2020.
Family: Married to Beth (COL, US Army, Retired). Five children and 6 grandchildren.
Residence: Blue Ridge, GA.
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Carl H. “Skip” Bell III, COL, AUS, Retired, NGC Class of 1967
CAC Service: 2022-present. Governance Committee.
Career Highlights: Commissioned Armor. Two Vietnam Tours (1st Tour Armored Cavalry Platoon Leader/Troop Commander, 2nd Tour Helicopter Pilot); 14 years Active Duty, 17 years USAR. Retired in 1998 as Commander, 2125th Garrison Support Unit (Ft Bragg). Worked for TAI and SAIC (government contractors supporting the JCS and the Army Worldwide Military Command and Control System (WWMCCS)). Last 13 work years as Vice-President Administration for Universal Tax Systems (computer software in Rome, GA).
Family: Married for 46 years to Carole (deceased). Three children, four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren.
Residence: Marietta, GA
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John “Jack” Healy, CPT, UNG Class of 2013
CAC Service: Communications Committee, 2024–2025; Chair Communications Committee - present.
Career Highlights:
Commissioned in Field Artillery upon graduation from UNG. Deployed to Iraq in 2015 in support of Operation Inherent Resolve with the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. Served as a U.S. Army Jumpmaster and later commanded Charlie Battery, 2-17 Field Artillery, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. Currently serves as Associate Director of Digital Registration & Onboarding at Verizon, overseeing digital access for all business customers.
Family: Married to Sibel Healy (UNG Class of 2013); proud parents of two children, Jacob and Leyla.
Residence: Cumming, GA
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Tripp Melton: NGC Class of 1992
CAC Service: 2021 – 2023 Special Projects Committee
Career Highlights: Senior Pension Consultant – Principal Financial Group 1996 – 2003, Regional Sales Director – Qualified Plans 2003 -2006, Regional VP – Symetra Financial Group 2006 – 2010, VP of Sales – Farmer and Betts 2010 – 2013, Owner/Operator - RGR Motorsports 2013 -2020
Family: Married to Grace (Cowart) Melton, NGC 1992
Residence: Milton, GA and Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Active Voting Members
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Jimmy E. Anderson, Jr., MBA, Class of 1990
CAC Service: 2026 – Present, Development Committee
Career Highlights: Pharmaceutical and healthcare executive with more than 30 years of leadership experience spanning the pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, patient services, market access, and healthcare operations sectors. Served in leadership roles with Johnson & Johnson, UCB, and Averitas Pharma across commercial sales and market access. Provided field leadership for numerous successful first-in-class, multibillion-dollar product launches, including REMICADE, SIMPONI, STELARA, CIMZIA, CYPHER STENT, and QUTENZA. Served as both an enlisted M1 Tanker and an Infantry Officer in the Georgia Army National Guard and graduated from North Georgia College as a Distinguished Military Graduate. Past President of the University of North Georgia Alumni Association and currently serves as Field Access Director, East Region, for Averitas Pharma.
Family: Married to Shelley Anderson. One daughter, Anna Caitlyn Anderson, UNG Class of 2022.
Residence: Dahlonega, Georgia
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J. Michael Ash, NGC Class 1970
Retired University ExecutiveCAC Service: 2026 – Present, Development Committee
Career Highlights:
Held various administrative and leadership positions starting as Administrator and Troop Commander of the Regional Dental Facility at Ft. Sam Houston Tx., Dean for Student Services and women’s tennis coach at Georgia State University, Sr. Budget and Policy Analyst for the University System of Georgia in the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget, Executive Director of the Georgia Joint Board of Family Practice, and Vice President of Finance and Administration at the Medical College of Georgia.Family:
Married to Lee Rodgers with one daughter Adrian MichaelResidence:
Augusta Ga.
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Drew Bickers, NGCSU Class of 2005
CAC Service:
2024-present. Communications Committee
Career Highlights:
Enlisted in the United States Air Force Security Forces following 9/11 while attending NGCSU. Went into a sales career after graduation & service, working up to the executive level in SAAS based companies, and continues to do so.
Family:
Married for 15 years to Mandy Bickers(Kovach), NGCSU Class of 2004. Two daughters, Ivy & Macie.
Residence:
Lumpkin County, GA
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Hank Brady: Commissioned, U.S. Army, Veteran’s Advocate, Class of 2012
CAC Service: 2026 – Present, Development Committee
Career Highlights: Medically retired from the U.S. Army in 2021; Wounded in Afghanistan in 2013, returned to duty and served on 3 operational rotations in East Europe and commanded Delta Company, 344th Military Intelligence BN In Pensacola, FL; Wounded Warrior Congressional Fellow in GA06 and GA07 and most recently managed military research projects for Kennesaw State's Center for the Advancement for Military and Emergency Services and the Army Research Institute.
Family: Married to Maria (Casseres) Brady, UNG 2013. Two children.
Residence: Marietta, Georgia
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Jeff Brown: Captain, United States Army Reserve, NGC Class of 1989
CAC Service: 2016-2022 and 2024-present. Governance Committee, 2016-2019; Governance Committee Chairman, 2019 – 2022. Special Projects Committee, 2025.
Career Highlights: Commissioned Regular Army, Infantry. After receiving educational delay and graduating law school, transferred branches to Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Served thirteen years as JAGC officer in the Georgia Army National Guard and the United States Army Reserve. Have been in private law practice for thirty-three years, currently serving as managing partner of Brown & Adams, LLC with offices in Columbus, Georgia and Dahlonega, Georgia. Served on UNG Alumni Association from 2013 to 2020.
Family: Married to Lisa Brown. Three children (twin daughters-UNG Class of 2023, son-high school senior).
Residence: Columbus, GA and Dahlonega, GA
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Kevin Brown: LTC, U.S. Army, Retired, NGC Class of 1994
CAC Service: 2026 – Present, Development Committee
Career Highlights: Retired from the U.S. Army in 2018; 23+ years of service as a Field Artillery Officer. Served as battalion commander, executive officer to DCG (1st Cavalry Division), civil disaster response planner, inspector general, and battery commander. Served in multiple U.S. and overseas locations including 3 combat deployments to Iraq. Currently: Executive Operational Planning Director at USAA (business strategy, program management in the Chief Legal Office).
Family: Married to Carrie (Winberg) Brown, NGC 1994. Three adult children.
Residence: Spring Branch, Texas
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Trenton J. Conner, Colonel, U.S. Army Retired, NGC Class of 1997
CAC Service: 2024-present. Governance Committee, 2024-present
Career Highlights: Retired from the Army in 2023 after 31+ years of service. Highlights: Deployments to Kosovo, Iraq, and three times to Afghanistan. Command assignments: Defense Logistics Agency – Distribution, Susquehanna, PA through the COVID-19 and Operation Warp Speed from 2022-2024; Letterkenny Munitions Center, PA, 2015-2017, and Company A 25th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st SBCT, 25th Infantry Division 2003-2005 (Iraq). Currently, CEO of ConnerLogix a defense consulting firm.
Family: Married to Traci (Melton), 2 daughters.
Residence: Madison, AL
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Chris Dockery: LTC, U.S. Army Reserve, Retired NGC Class of 1989, General Contractor, 1996-present, Chair, Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners, 2012-present; Class of 1989
CAC Service: 2023-present
Career Highlights: Retired from U.S. Army Reserve in 2017: 32 years combined service in the Georgia Army National Guard and the Army Reserve. Commanded the 124th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment in Baghdad during Operation Iraqi Freedom 2005-2006. Served as Armor Company Commander, Detailed Inspector General, as well as various staff functions. Currently, own and manage a design/build residential construction company in Dahlonega. Serves as Chair of the Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners. Member of the Board of Managers, Association of County Commissioners of Georgia.
Family: Married to Krista (Davis) Dockery. Three Children, Davis, UNG 2021, Lindsey and Carder.
Residence: Dahlonega, Georgia
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Lee C. Duncan: Residential Real Estate Developer; LTC, Georgia State Defense Force; Class of 1970
CAC Service: 2023-present
Career Highlights: Residential Developer of amenity-based communities for the past 25 years. Provided strategic planning and implemented successful premier communities in the southeast to include Sea Pines Resort and Palmetto Dunes Resort (Hilton Head Is, SC), The Country Club of the South (Roswell, GA), The Manor Golf and Country Club (Milton, GA), The Cliffs at Possum Kingdom (Texas), Whitewater Creek (Fayetteville, GA), Blue Water Bay (Ft. Walton Beach, FL) among others. Currently LTC in Georgia State Defense Force. Commissioned U.S. Army upon graduation 1971; MBA Kennesaw State University (2017). Graduate of Atlanta Regional Commission Regional Leadership Institute (2006). Board member, Council for Quality Growth.
Family: Married to Joan (Todd) Duncan, one son (Chip) and two grandchildren
Residence: Sandy Springs, GA
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Brent Dunham: Senior Executive, NGC class 1996
CAC: 2025 Development Committee
Career Highlights: A senior commercial executive with over 20 years of leadership in Fortune 500 companies and the U.S. Army. Currently Global VP at Varex Imaging, he oversees a $600M+ medical imaging portfolio worldwide. He has held VP roles at Jubilant Radiopharma, Canon Medical, Honeywell, and GE Healthcare. Core strengths: commercial strategy, revenue execution, ops excellence, and team development.
A proud U.S. Army veteran and Boar’s Head Brigade alumnus.
Family: Married to Mandi NGC graduate, two adult children
Residence: Cartersville, Georgia
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William “Bill” Gayler: MG, U.S. Army Retired; NGC Class of 1988
CAC Service: 2024-present. Governance Committee, 2024-2025.
Career Highlights: Retired from the U.S. Army in 2021; 33+ years of service.
Commanded at every level of command up to 2-Star General and extensive experience in peacetime, operational, and combat deployments worldwide. Highlights: Deputy Commanding General of the 7th Infantry Division, Deputy Commanding General of US Army Europe and Commander of US Army NATO Forces, and Commanding General of the US Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Ft. Rucker, AL. J3/Operations Officer, and Chief of Staff of US Africa Command, Stuttgart, Germany. Currently: Senior Strategic Advisor for PeopleTec Inc.; Government Advisory Board for Archer Aviation; Advisory Board, Virtualitics; Independent Consultant with Collins Aerospace and Lockheed. Volunteer as the Co-Chair for the Screaming Eagle Aviation Association and with the Wounded Warriors in Action foundation.
Family: Married to Michele (Nash) Gayler, NGC 88-89. Three children and three grandchildren.
Residence: Huntsville, Alabama
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Karen M. Hall: Business owner, NGC Class of 1997
CAC: 2025 Development Committee
Career Highlights: Founder and principal owner of Foxtrot Company, a Northern Virginia real estate firm. Co-founder of 100 Heroes Project returning over $1 million to service members at closing. Served on the Board of Directors for the Virginia Association of Realtors, advised the Nation Association of Realtors on military housing, and contributed regularly to MilitaryByOwner.com. A leader in the real estate community, she been featured by NPR, the Washington Post, and Military times.
Family: Married to Bob Hall, 2 adult children who graduated from UNG
Residence: Alexandria, Virginia
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Ann Hammel: Commissioned, U.S. Army Signal Corps, NGC Class of 1989
CAC Service: 2026–present. Communications Committee.
Career Highlights: Served as an active-duty officer in Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Spent three decades as a senior HR executive at Macy's and Carter's, advising CEOs and Presidents on talent strategy, workforce transformation, and organizational design. Currently Founder of Early Career Intelligence, which teaches early-career professionals how organizations really work. Serves on the Board of Trustees for United Through Reading, a nonprofit connecting deployed service members with their children.
Family: Married to Larry, NGC Class of 1989. Two children, John and Clara.
Residence: Dahlonega, GA
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Larry Hammel: Commissioned Finance Corps, NGC Class of 1989
CAC Service: 2026–present. Development Committee.
Career Highlights: Earned the Georgia Military Scholarship, was commissioned in the Finance Corps, and served twelve years in the Georgia Army National Guard. Currently Chief Financial Officer for Forsyth County Schools, the fifth-largest school district in Georgia with more than 55,000 students and a total operating and capital budget approaching $1 billion. Prior to that served as CFO for Clarke County Schools; previously held senior finance and accounting roles in other Georgia school systems.
Family: Married to Ann, NGC Class of 1989. Two children, John and Clara.
Residence: Dahlonega, GA
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Gerald Lord, Colonel, U.S. Army, Retired, NGC class of 1961
CAC Service: 2021 – present. Governance Committee2021 – Present.
Career Highlights: Commissioned as an Infantry Officer. Vietnam (two tours) Retired in 1991 after 30 years of service. Key assignments, commanded two companies, two battalions and a U.S. Army Garrision. Served as Professor of Military Science and Commandant of Cadets at North Georgia College from 1984 to 1988. Employed by North Georgia College in 1992 as a staff member. After 16 years, retired as Assistant Vice President of Business and Finance at North Georgia College and State University. Had the honor to serve two years as the first separate Commandant of Cadets in many years.
Family: Married to Kay (Norton) Lord, NGC class of 1962. One son, one granddaughter and one grandson on the way.
Residence: Gainesville, Georgia
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Bio Coming Soon
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John L. Smith: COL, U.S. Army, Retired, Class of 1982
CAC Service: 2023-present
Career Highlights: Served as Chief of Staff for Division West, First Army Command. Also served as a Brigade Commander in First Army, Battalion Commander, 10th Mountain Division, and Battalion Commander, First Army. Had multiple combat tours and deployments. Currently, serves as the Executive Director of Army Logistic Operations at V2X, a global DOD contractor. Manages multiple Army programs both in the US and overseas.
Family: Married to Teresa (Clay) Smith, NGC 1982. Two children and two grandchildren
Residence: Fayetteville, Georgia
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Greg Wright: CEO Bison Wealth & Partner Brookhaven Family Office. NGC 1993
CAC Service: 2026 - present.
Career Highlights: Retired from U.S. Marines in 2013; 25 years of enlisted and commissioned service. Led Marines and flew Heavy Lift helicopters through multiple combat deployments across three conflicts, ensured safe helicopter transport of the President of the United States for four years and conducted campaign analysis for the CNO/Commandant. Subsequently, spent 5 years as Strategic Consultant for DOE’s defense nuclear facilities. Currently: CEO of Bison Wealth, a multi-billion-dollar, SEC-registered Investment Advisory Firm and Partner at Brookhaven, a multi-family office.
Family: Married to Rebecca (Moore) Wright, NGC 94-95. One stepdaughter, Bailey.
Residence: Hartwell, Georgia