Georgia Department of Corrections
Brian Owens, Commissioner
Director of Public Affairs
Joan Heath
Contact: Office of Public Affairs (404) 656-9772
STATE OF GEORGIA
For Immediate Release
Ricky Myrick Honored by Thomas University
Presented with Departmental Award for Criminal Justice
Atlanta – Each year, Thomas University Professors select a student in their Department who exemplify academic achievement, character and integrity. This year, the Departmental Award for Criminal Justice was bestowed upon Ricky Myrick, Director of the Office of Investigation and Compliance for the Georgia Department of Corrections.
Mr. Myrick began his career with the Department of Corrections as a Correctional Officer at Mens State Prison in Milledgeville in 1989. He advanced through the ranks as Sergeant and then Lieutenant in various state prisons. He was assigned to the Governor’s Task Force on Drugs and Violent Crimes from 1995 until 1996, when he was reassigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration as a Task Force Officer representing the Department of Corrections. While assigned to DEA, he was promoted to the Internal Affairs Division as an Investigator in 1997 and then to Manager of Special Operations in 1998. In 2001, Myrick returned from his assignment with the DEA to focus on managing the Special Operations Division. In 2007, Special Operations was reorganized and Mr. Myrick was named Chief Investigator assigned to the Fugitive Unit. Effective January 1, 2010, Mr. Myrick was promoted to Director of Investigations and Compliance.
“Ricky is a true representative of the type of individual we want working for the Department,” said Commissioner Brian Owens. “He is consistently noted for his professionalism and we are proud of his accomplishments,” added Owens.
Myrick and his wife, Jennifer, have a son and presently live in Gwinnett County.
The Department of Corrections is the fifth largest prison system in the United States and is responsible for supervising nearly 60,000 state prisoners and over 150,000 probationers. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 13,000 employees.
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