Justine Ferrer
Fort Gordon National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy
706-791-7469
justine.ferrer@fgyca.org
Fort Gordon Youth ChalleNGe Academy Graduation Ceremony
WHEN:
August 23, 2008
WHERE:
James Brown Arena
WHAT:
The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program is a voluntary intervention program open to 16- to 18-year-old high school dropouts who are looking for a way to change their lives through education, community service, physical fitness and life skills training. The 17-month program helps young people, earn their GED, enroll in college, enter the workforce or join the military. The Fort Gordon Youth Challenge Academy will graduate over 225 Georgia cadets, all having gained the opportunity to improve their lives through higher education.
• Guest Speaker: Major General William T. Nesbitt, bio attached
• Presentation of diplomas: Major General William T. Nesbitt, The Adjutant General, GA Dept. of Defense, Frank Williams, State Director of Youth Programs, GA National Guard, Janet A. Zimmerman, Lieutenant Colonel, USA (Retired), Director
Maj. Gen. William T. Nesbitt
Adjutant General
Georgia National Guard
Major General William T. (Terry) Nesbitt is the Adjutant General of Georgia. The command was officially passed to him on October 28, 2007. Prior to appointment as TAG, General Nesbitt served six years as Assistant Adjutant General, Army and Commander of the Georgia Army National Guard. In addition to his duties with the Georgia National Guard, General Nesbitt concurrently served as Director of the Georgia Office of Homeland Security following his appointment by Governor Sonny Perdue in May2006.
General Nesbitt’s military career began in February 1966 when he was drafted into the United States Army. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in January 1967 after completion of Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning. General Nesbitt served in the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in the Republic of Vietnam. He entered the Georgia Army National Guard in June 1973 where he has served in a number of command and staff positions including Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Georgia Army National Guard and Commander of the 48th Infantry Brigade (Rear).
He also has had varied assignments at the state and national level. In 2004 he served as Commander of Joint Task Force G8 with command of all military assets providing security support to the G8 Economic Summit. He also has served as Director of Manpower and Personnel-J1 and Director of Domestic Operations/Homeland Defense-J3, at National Guard Bureau.
General Nesbitt received a Bachelor of Science Degree from New York University. His military education includes the Special Forces Officer’s Course, Armor Officer Advanced Course, Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College.
General Nesbitt and his wife Letha reside in Marietta. They have two adult children and two grandchildren. He is a member of the National Guard Association of the United States and past president of the National Guard Association of Georgia. He and Letha are members of the Oostanaula Baptist Church of Calhoun, Georgia where he serves as a Deacon.
