Georgia Department of Corrections
Brian Owens, Commissioner
Director of Public Affairs
Joan Heath
Contact: Office of Public Affairs (478) 992-5248
STATE OF GEORGIA
For Immediate Release
Georgia Corrections Academy Director Named
Gail Donnelly Appointed
Forsyth - Commissioner Brian Owens announced the appointment of Gail Donnelly as Georgia Corrections Academy Director. The Georgia Corrections Academy provides basic and specialized training for the Department’s probation and correctional officers at State Offices South at Tift College. Staff development training is also offered for non-security staff to include counselors, food service and administrative staff.
"Gail brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Department," said Commissioner Brian Owens. "Our Corrections Academy will benefit from her leadership," added Owens.
Donnelly most recently worked for the Monroe County School District. In October 2007, she retired from the U.S. Coast Guard after nearly 27 years of service with the rank of Captain (O-6). A helicopter pilot and aviation engineering officer, Donnelly served throughout the Unites States, Puerto Rico and the both the Arctic and Antarctic. Donnelly held Commanding Officer positions at the Coast Guard's Air Station in Savannah, GA and the Coast Guard's Aviation Technical Training Academy. Her military decorations include three Meritorious Service Medals, two Coast Guard Commendation Medals, the 911 Medal, three Coast Guard Achievement Medals, as well as other service and unit commendations.
Donnelly graduated from the State University of New York at Syracuse in 1979 and earned a Masters in Engineering Management from The Georgia Washington University in 1995.
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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