President is grand marshal for Veterans Day Parade

University of North Georgia (UNG) President Michael Shannon will serve as grand marshal for the Lumpkin County Veterans Day Parade, which is set for 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11. The Lumpkin County Veterans Affairs Committee is the parade organizer. 

"It is an honor to be a part of Dahlonega's Veterans Day Parade, particularly as we are launching the Corps of the Future — a strategy to align with our aspirational peer West Point and deliver to America like never before," Shannon said. "This strategy includes increasing the size of the Corps of Cadets and delivering leaders who make a greater impact. Through this approach, we will attract, recruit, educate, and graduate more cadets to the highest standards — morally and ethically principled leaders who will lead in America’s Army, in our communities and across society."

UNG's Corps of Cadets Color Guard, Bravo Company and the Blue Ridge Rifles specialty unit will also take part in the parade. The 2023 NCAA Division II national champion UNG softball team is also part of the parade and will hand out flags. The UNG Police are also scheduled to participate along with many veterans and representatives of community organizations. 

A native of New Jersey, Shannon is a first-generation college graduate and was commissioned through Army ROTC. He served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army for 20 years, retiring in 2015 with the rank of lieutenant colonel. After operational Army service as an Infantry and Signal Corps officer with assignments in the 82d Airborne Division, the 35th Signal Brigade (18th Airborne Corps) and the 2nd Infantry Division, he was selected to serve as a U.S. Army Nuclear and Counterproliferation officer. 

For more than 10 years, he provided leadership and technical and operational expertise to the U.S. Department of Defense as an expert in nuclear technology issues and later held leadership assignments with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Shannon also served at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point during two different leadership assignments, as an instructor and later as an assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Nuclear Engineering. At West Point, he was actively engaged in teaching and research along with several activities in support of cadet and Army officer development. 

Shannon’s wife, Jessica, is also a veteran, having served in the U.S. Air Force. They have four children. 

"UNG's Corps of Cadets is a world-class leader development program that has produced more than 60 generals and countless Army officers," Shannon said. "Our officers are known throughout the United States Army as warriors, leaders, pathfinders, and disruptors, and our legacy will continue to be measured by the contributions our leaders make in the military and in all walks of American society."