Major General William T.  Nesbitt, commander of the Georgia Army National Guard, has been appointed by Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue as the state’s director of homeland security. The Governor announced the appointment this week in Savannah. Nesbitt will report directly to Governor Perdue and will oversee all homeland security issues in the state of Georgia.

“General Terry Nesbitt is a leader who will take Georgia’s homeland security office to the next level,” said Perdue.  “He brings the most relevant experience possible to the table – the ability to lead multiple civilian, military and law enforcement organizations at a time of heightened alert.”

On his appointment, the two-star general said he was honored by it and "I am excited about the opportunity to serve, and I fully understand the challenges with which I’ll be faced."

"We have a great group of emergency management and law enforcement professionals, and I look forward to working with them."

“General Nesbitt brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this position which will be invaluable to the people of Georgia,” said Major General David Poythress, Georgia’s Adjutant General, who announced that Nesbitt will continue as commander of the Georgia Army National Guard in his M-day role.  The Adjutant General also said there will be no other personnel moves within the Georgia Guard as the result of Nesbitt’s assignment to the position of Homeland Security Director.

General Nesbitt, 59, is the commanding general of the Georgia Army National Guard.  In 2004, he commanded Joint Task Force G8.  This task force of more than 7,000 personnel from all services conducted military support operations for the Group of Eight Summit at Sea Island, Georgia in June 2004.  General Nesbitt was the first National Guard officer selected to command a task force comprised of both active duty and National Guard personnel.

General Nesbitt’s military career began in February 1966 when he was drafted into the United States Army.  He completed basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and Infantry Advanced Individual Training at Fort Ord, California.  He was commissioned a second lieutenant of infantry in January 1967 after completion of Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning.  Following completion of the US Army Special Forces Officer’s Course at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, he was assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in the Republic of Vietnam.  General Nesbitt entered the Georgia Army National Guard in June 1973.  Nesbitt is a graduate of the Command and General Staff College, New York State University and the U.S. Army War College.