Colonel George L. Fredrick (Ret.), known locally as “Colonel Fred,” is a native of Fairfax, South Carolina. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and completed his Associate’s degree simultaneously. Following a short gap period in his service, he returned to college and reentered the Army by joining the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).

Fredrick is a Distinguished Military Graduate (DMG) from Texas State University with a Bachelor’s degree in political science and government, and was commissioned in 1987. His military education includes, but is not limited to completion of the Infantry Officers’ Basic and Advanced Courses, the Army Command and General Staff College, Joint and Combined Warfighting School.

Fredrick completed assignments at home and abroad, including tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He received numerous awards and medals, including the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Award, and many others.

Fredrick also earned a Master’s degree in Military Operational Art and Science from Ft. Leavenworth School of Advanced Military Studies and additional degrees from Central Michigan University and Columbus State University, as well as a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Georgia Southern University.

In June 2007, Fredrick became a Professor of Military Science for Georgia Southern University’s ROTC program. During his time there, the program received one of eight prestigious MacArthur Awards, given to the top ROTC programs in the nation.

Fredrick was promoted to the rank of Colonel on April 1, 2011. Brig. Gen. Leslie Smith, a fellow DMG from Fredrick’s alma mater, presided over his promotion ceremony and affirmed that “Since taking over command of the ROTC program, Col. Fredrick has made incredible strides…[the program’s] now recognized among the nation’s best.”

Fredrick continued his career at Georgia Southern University as its Director of Military Affairs from 2012 to 2013. He then assisted 39 ROTC programs as a recruiting operations officer for the 6th ROTC Brigade before returning to Georgia Southern University. In February 2020, he was appointed as the Director of Military and Veteran Services, where he continues to serve today.