Governor Kemp Appoints New Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director

Governor Brian Kemp (R) announced on Monday he has tapped Mike Register to replace Vic Reynolds as the newest director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).

“Mike has a strong track record of strengthening public safety and protecting Georgia’s communities,” Governor Kemp said of Register.

The Honorable Vic Reynolds was sworn in as a Cobb Judicial Circuit Superior Court judge, which created a vacancy at the helm of the Peach State’s investigative bureau.

“I’m looking forward to his impact on this important agency that makes our entire state a safer and better place to live, work, and raise our families,”  Kemp said.

Register’s appointment is dependent upon the approval of the Board of Public Safety. Until that is passed, GBI Assistant Director John Melvin will serve as interim director in his stead.

“I also want to think Vic Reynolds for all of his contributions to the GBI during a critical time when the state faced and overcame the challenges presented by the summer of civil unrest and the pandemic,” Kemp said. 

Previously, Register was the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office assistant chief, the chief of police for Cobb County, and the chief of police for Clayton County.

“As [Reynolds] continues to serve his fellow Georgians in a new capacity, Marty and I wish him the very best and congratulate him on leaving an enduring mark on the agency,” the governor said. 

A 23-year veteran of the military, Register was a member of U.S. Army Special Operations, which included deployment to Afghanistan.

“I’m looking forward to working alongside new GBI Director Mike Register to continue cracking down on human trafficking across Georgia. The GBI has been an essential partner in this fight, and I’m sure they will continue to be a force for justice in this new era,” First Lady Marty Kemp said on Tuesday.

Register also has past ties to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), as a former member of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force Executive Board and as a graduate of the FBI’s National Executive Institute.

In the private sector, Register worked at the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Tampa-based Quiet Professionals, LLC, which supports U.S. Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, in addition to other “various intelligence agencies.”

The GBI hosted its annual media day on Tuesday and gave presentations about the Georgia Crime Information Center, Investigation Division, and its Department of Forensic Science.

“Interim Director joined us for #GBIMediaDay. He shared about the history of the Bureau and offered an overview of the agency,” the GBI said in a Tuesday tweet.

“Next up for #GBIMediaDay, it’s time to drop by the GBI’s Bomb Disposal Unit. We have several bomb response trucks strategically located across the state,” the GBI tweeted.

“Rhonda Westbrook is the Division Director of the GBI’s Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC). She shared at #GBIMediaDay about the important role of GCIC in the State of Georgia,” the GBI additionally said via Twitter.

GBI forensic division director Cleveland Miles also gave a status update on The Peach State’s crime lab.

“Our crime lab is responsible for the majority of forensic services in Georgia,” Public and Governmental Affairs Director Nelly Miles said on Twitter.

GBI Investigative Division Director Chris Cosey gave an overview of the bureau’s investigative branch.

“With 15 regional investigative offices, multiple drug offices and special work units, our investigative division is delivering results,” Miles said in a tweet. 

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 Addison Basurto is a reporter at The Georgia Star News and The Star News Network. Follow Addy on Twitter and GETTR. Email tips/inquiries to [email protected]
Photo “Georgia Bureau of Investigation Building” by Tim Farley. CC BY-SA 4.0.