James_Jan-Feb_2026_web - Flipbook - Page 23
ew institutions have
shaped Georgia’s leadership pipeline quite like
Georgia Military College,
the 146-year-old school
anchored in the historic
former State Capitol in Milledgeville.
Also, few leaders are as uniquely
prepared to guide its next chapter
as its new president, Maj. Gen.Terry
McKenrick, U.S. Army (Retired).
After 35 years in the Army and
eight command assignments at
increasingly complex levels, McKenrick has stepped into civilian higher
education with a mission that he
says feels like a continuation of service— not a departure from it.
“This is an incredible opportunity
to serve as the president,” he said.
“I really do see this as an extension
of my military service— service to
the community of Milledgeville, to
this institution and to our nation in
preparing our students and cadets to
be contributors to their communities,
their state and their country.”
Today, Georgia Military College
(GMC) is a statewide system serving more than 12,000 students. It
consists of kindergarten through
12th-grade cadets in its preparatory
school, junior college students across
multiple campuses and online, and a
245-member Corps of Cadets. Behind
those numbers is a complex organization: a 150-acre main campus with
60 buildings, approximately 1,200
faculty and staff and some $240 million in assets to manage.
A Military College for Everyone
The military heritage on GMC’s
campus is impossible to miss. Prep
school students move across the
grounds in uniform. Cadets in the
junior college Corps drill, train and
study under a structure grounded in
discipline and accountability. However, the general is quick to stress
that the word “military” in the college’s name doesn’t mean the school
is only for those pursuing a military
career— or that a military commitment is required.
“The two most important things
I’d want people to know are, first, we
take the ‘military’ in Georgia Military
College very seriously,” McKenrick
said. “We integrate leadership instruction and character development
into all of our programs.”
The second point is equally
important. He emphasizes that “you
do not have to be affiliated with
the military to attend. Some people
think coming to Georgia Military
College means you’re going into the
military or a very military program.
Most of our junior college students—
about 90 percent— other than the
leadership instruction they receive
MAJ. GEN. McKENRICK
JA N UA RY /F E B RUARY 2026
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