Impact Georgia Magazine - Regaining Momentum Spring 2021 | Page 5

REGAINING MOMENTUM - SPRING 2021
RICKY MYRICK began his career with the Georgia Department of Corrections ( GDC ) in 1989 as a correctional officer . He rose to the rank of lieutenant and served as both CERT commander and tactical squad commander . In 1995 , Myrick left the uniformed ranks when he was promoted to Criminal Investigator and assigned to the Governor ’ s Strike Force on Drugs & Violent Crime . In 1996 , he was reassigned to the DEA State & Local Drug Task Force in Atlanta and was deputized as a federal agent , tasked with making Federal narcotics trafficking cases with a nexus to the GDC .
While assigned to the DEA Task Force , Myrick was promoted to Manager of the GDC Special Operations Unit , where he oversaw the daily operations of the Tactical Squads ’, CERT , Canine Unit , Fugitive Unit , and all investigators assigned to Task Force Operations . In 2003 , Myrick was promoted to Chief Investigator over Fugitive Operations and assigned to the US Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force , where he served as Group Supervisor for the Task Force and oversaw approximately fifty law enforcement officers from over 20 law enforcement agencies . In 2010 , he was promoted to Director of the Office of Professional Standards , where he oversaw all Criminal , Administrative , and Fugitive Investigations , Departmental Audits , the Intelligence Unit , Canine Unit , PREA Compliance , American Correctional Association ( ACA ) Compliance , and the Ombudsman ’ s Office .
In 2016 , Myrick was promoted to Assistant Commissioner of Facilities Division , where he was responsible for oversight of 35 state prisons , four private prisons , 23 county prisons , seven substance abuse centers , 15 transitional centers , seven probation detention centers , 21 fire stations , the Special Operations Unit , Offender Administration , the Inmate Transportation Unit , and the Communications Center .
In December 2019 , Myrick was promoted to Chief of Staff , where he was responsible for the management of approximately 10,000 state employees and overseeing the operations of four main divisions of the GDC : Facilities , Administration & Finance , Health Services , and Inmate Services .
Myrick is a graduate of the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College . He received a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Thomas University and a Master of Public Administration from Columbus State University . He is a member of Atlanta Metropol , American Correctional Association , Southern States Correctional Association , Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police , Georgia Internal Affairs Investigators Association , and the Georgia Gang Investigators .
We appreciate Mr . Myrick ’ s commitment and dedication to public safety and the great state of Georgia . We wish him well in all his future endeavors - enjoy the next chapter !

Ricky Myrick 31 Years of Service

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