William “Billy” Mixon, a career law enforcement official who has spent 25 years in academy operations, has been named the new director of Columbus State University’s Command College.

Command College, a partnership between the university and the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, provides a program of study that goes beyond what is currently available in public safety executive and management development courses, serving as a “graduate school” for public safety executives. Students earn professional development experience while also earning academic credit toward a master’s degree in a program that is distinctive, flexible, relevant and comprehensive.

Mixon has been serving as interim director of Command College since August.

He came to Columbus State University after spending 13 years as the Public Safety Training Manager at Columbus’ Georgia Public Safety Training Center. There, he supervised a professional staff in development, delivery, review and revision of statewide public safety training programs that involved about 70 adjunct instructors. A certified law enforcement officer since 1982, Mixon has been involved with public safety training for 25 years.

“Billy is the right person to lead Command College into its next phase,” said Dennis Rome, dean of CSU’s College of Letters and Sciences, the academic unit of the university that houses Command College. “We want to strengthen and expand upon the wonderful track record that’s already been established with Command College and the representatives from more than 300 different agencies around the country who have gone through the program.”

Since taking over the program, Mixon has met with various law enforcement officials and groups around the state to ensure the master’s degree, course offerings and Professional Management Program continue to serve the needs of state public safety personnel.

“It is a real honor to be leading Command College,” Mixon said. “From the dean to the university president to the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police Executive Board, there has been universal support for what we’re doing and where we’re planning to go.”