Atlanta — September 7, 2005

Regent Richard L. Tucker, chair of the Special Regents Committee, and Chancellor Thomas C. Meredith today announced the appointment of Dr. Daniel J. Kaufman – a decorated brigadier general – as the charter president of the newest state college in the University System of Georgia.

Kaufman, who recently retired as the chief academic officer and dean of the academic board at the United States Military Academy (USMA), in West Point, N.Y., will assume the presidency of the 35th college in the University System of Georgia on September 19.

“Gen. Kaufman has the solid leadership skills and the vision needed to take the four-year college we are establishing in Gwinnett County to great heights,” Tucker said. “We are looking forward to his leadership as we create the county’s first self-standing four-year college, and the first new institution in the University System in decades.”

“As an experienced leader, Daniel Kaufman is well equipped for this challenge,” Chancellor Meredith added. “We have high hopes that he will position the newest campus of the University System as a shining star for higher education in this region of the state.”

As West Point’s chief academics officer from June 2000 until his retirement this past June, Kaufman was directly responsible for 525 faculty members, more than 200 support staff, a $45 million personnel budget and a matching annual operating budget. He articulated the need for and obtained Congressional funding for a new $75 million library, and, during his tenure, research support for USMA increased from $2.5 million to $11.6 million per year. A $50 million renovation of USMA’s engineering building also was completed on his watch.

Kaufman has co-edited and co-authored six books on such topics as international relations, national security policy and strategy, Vietnam and NATO. He taught in the Department of Social Sciences at the USMA from 1974 to 2000, and was named director of the department’s national security studies program in 1983, deputy department head in 1990, and department head in 1996. From 2000 to 2005, he chaired the academy’s Faculty Council, Installation Planning Board and Athletic Committee. Kaufman also coached the academy’s debate team for 17 years.

Among the academic honors he has earned, the brigadier general holds the title of Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.). Kaufman earned a Ph.D. in political science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in Cambridge, Mass., a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and a Bachelor of Science degree from the USMA.

Kaufman’s military experience includes service as a platoon leader in Vietnam, a member of the National Security Council staff, a battalion operations officer with the 82nd Airborne Division and special assistant to the chief of staff of the U.S. Army. In 1995, he was called to service as a member of the transition team for Chief of Staff of the Army Designate, Gen. Dennis J. Reimer.

The Army has recognized Kaufman with a long list of honors, including a Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, a Bronze Star Medal for Valor, another Bronze Star Medal, two Purple Hearts, two Meritorious Service Medals, two Army Commendation Medals, a National Defense Service Medal and a Vietnam Service Medal for four campaigns.

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