Commissioner: Homer Bryson

Director of Public Affairs: Joan Heath

Two graduates receive special recognition at awards ceremony

FORSYTH, Ga. – On June 10, 12 Department employees graduated from a joint GBI/GDC Special Agent Basic Academy at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth, GA. An award ceremony was hosted on June 9, where Special Agent (SA) Clinton Thornburg received the Top Gun and Class President Award and SA Ben Blackburn received the Fitness & Trapshooter Award.

“Congratulations to our 12 GDC Special Agent graduates,” said Commissioner Bryson. “You are an integral part of this agency, enforcing our mission to protect the public by operating secure and safe facilities.”

The 12 employees who swore their oath to the Department and received their badge and diploma are: SA Clinton Thornburg (voted class president by his peers), SA Thomas Bisdorf, SA Benjamin Blackburn, SA William Burse, SA Phil Davis, SA Jalon Heard, SA Tre Lewis III, SA Bryan Rentz, SA Michael Sellars, SA James D. Smith, SA Jonathan Spires and SA Drew Stephens.

The GDC has one of the largest prison systems in the U.S. and is responsible for supervising nearly 52,000 state prisoners. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 10,500 employees.

For more information on the GDC call 478-992-5248 or visit https://gdc.georgia.gov.