COVINGTON, Ga. — A Covington man is the governor’s choice to lead the state’s two-year college system into the new year and beyond.

The Technical College System of Georgia board voted unanimously on Dec. 16 to hire Greg Dozier, chief financial officer of Gov. Brian Kemp, as the new commissioner effective Jan. 1.

Dozier lives in Covington with his wife and two daughters. He will succeed Matt Arthur, who becomes the executive secretary of the Professional Standards Commission.

“Greg Dozier is a trusted ally and strong leader who understands state operations and offers a wealth of institutional knowledge as the incoming TCSG commissioner,” Kemp said in a statement.

“To implement my vision and TCSG’s goals, Greg Dozier will always put families and students first. Together, we will ensure that our educational system remains top-notch and fulfills workforce needs. He is the right person for this job, and I know that he will continue to serve our state well.”

Dozier has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a Master of Business Administration degree from Georgia State University. Before serving as Kemp’s CFO, Dozier was the commissioner of the state Department of Corrections, commissioner of the Department of Driver Services and division director at the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget. 

He has served under Kemp and his predecessors, Nathan Deal and Sonny Perdue.

“We are incredibly excited to have Greg Dozier lead TCSG,” Anne Kaiser, the board’s executive committee chair, said.

“As a longtime public servant, he has the right background and mindset to implement the governor’s mission and follow TCSG’s ultimate objective: putting students first.”

The Technical College System includes Georgia Piedmont Technical College, which has a campus in Covington.

As the leader of the PSC, Arthur will have oversight of the state certification agency for teachers.

“He will lead by example and work tirelessly to maintain quality teachers and standards in our great state,” Kemp said. “As a former educator, superintendent and TCSG commissioner, Matt Arthur has the ideal skills for PSC, and we look forward to working with him in this new capacity.”

Arthur is a graduate of the University of Georgia, where he played on the 1980 national championship football team. He and his wife have two children and live in Rabun County.

The role of executive secretary of the PSC has been vacant since Kelly Henson retired in January.