Charles (Chase) Sanger Video Transcript
[Interviewer] Welcome to the University of North Georgia Political Science & International Affairs Department's YouTube channel. In this segment of our "Meet Our Alumni" series, you'll have the opportunity to meet Mr. Charles, or rather Chase, Sanger. Chase received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science degree in 2012. A retired member of the United States Army, he currently works in the office of U.S. Congressman Barry Loudermilk of Georgia's s 11th District.
Good afternoon, Chase. And thanks for coming.
[Chase] Hey, thanks for having me. Glad to be here.
[Interviewer] Over the past 17 or so years, you've traveled from being a student at Dominion Christian to your current position in Congressman Loudermilk's office -- quite a journey. I'd like to explore that journey a little with our viewers. To start us off, please tell us a little bit about yourself. Who exactly is Chase Sanger?
[Chase] Yeah. So, you know, I grew up in Cobb County, Georgia and as you said, went to Dominion Christian there for high school. And, you know, when I was getting, you know, my junior year, I knew, I'd always known that I wanted to join the military, join the Army, and I was looking at University of North Georgia, which at the time was North Georgia College and State University. And then at some of the other military schools like Virginia Military Institute.
I came up here, I had the opportunity to come to North Georgia and got the tour of the campus; ended up doing the National Leadership Challenge weekend. And after that weekend, that really solidified for me that North Georgia was the place that I belonged, and the place that I wanted to be. And, so from my junior year in high school on, I knew I'd go to North Georgia assuming they'd accept me. Which they did. And you know enjoyed my time here.
I was a Charlie Company frog; Charlie Mike to those of you out there that are Charlie folks, who are going to be Charlie. After my time in the Corps I commissioned active duty with the Army into the Chemical branch and I was branch detailed to Chemical and Signal, which was my first choice. So Fort Leonardwood, Missouri for my Officer Basic. Then from there my first assignment was 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. I had had the opportunity to go through airborne school while here at North Georgia during one of my summers, so I was already airborne qualified and that was a great place to be as a young lieutenant.
[Interviewer] Let's go back to when you first joined the PSIA family. What got you into political science as an undergrad, as a field of study? And why that degree specifically?
[Chase] Yeah. So, you know, I was always interested in politics growing up. Ever since I was a little kid, my parents had me in a wagon campaigning for like local judges and Solicitor General, and things like that in Cobb County. So I'd been exposed to politics at a very young age, and when I found out that you could actually major in that and the Army didn't care what you know my bachelor's was in as long as I got one. So I was like, well, Political Science is where I definitely want to be.
So, so I pretty much went into freshman year knowing that I wanted to be a Political Science major and yeah, just fell in love with the Department and the professors and advisor that I had, and it was just pretty much just done deal. I guess when I first came here I knew that's what I wanted to do.
[Interviewer] After you left the Army, what brought you specifically to his office?
[Chase] Yeah. So, you know, it was about four years after I left active duty to when I joined his office and in the interim I worked, I opened a global programs office at the Texas A&M School of Law out in Fort Worth, Texas. They had just opened it and I kind of came on board to help jump start that program. But I knew I wanted to get into something political, something in the federal government. That was always the aspiration of mine.
So I was actually at USAJobs and looking for something in Atlanta, because I was from Atlanta. I was living in Texas and I found a Wounded Warrior Fellowship program, in Congressman Loudermilk's office. And then I was like, wow, this is, you know, my home congressional district actually, and the Wounded Warrior Fellowship didn't really know what that was. But that was a two-year program that I did. And then when that ended about 2.5 years ago, Congressman Loudermilk offered me a position full-time on his regular staff. And that's what I've been doing ever since.
And my job is basically community relations, so I'm his representative at the Chambers of Commerce; Business Associations. I'm a liaison with county and city governments. Also state-level elected officials. And it's just an opportunity for the Congressman to stay engaged in the local community while he's up in Washington working on legislation, he can have me out there at events, staying engaged and finding out what concerns constituents have.
[Interviewer] Looking back over your journey from high school student to Georgia Congressional staffer, what has, and I guess, what is, your Political Science degree, or Political Science background – what has it done, and I guess maybe more importantly, what is it doing currently for you both professionally and personally?
[Chase] Yeah. No. It provided a great foundation, you know, and just understanding of issues. You know, I can remember some of the classes I took specifically that, you know, I lean on, you know, quite often, our Congressional class with Carl Cavalli, who I believe is still one of the professors here. I just remember that class specifically just about how Congress is structured and how things actually get done on committees, and it's just helpful for me to understand that process when I'm talking to people out in the community. They may not know how that stuff works, but you know the course work that I had here at North Georgia, International Politics classes, I took, Dr. Miner; Dr. Harris. I could go on and on and name specific professors and I can still remember content from those classes that's still relevant.
[Interviewer] Again, looking back at your time here at North Georgia, is there any particular aspect that you can narrow down that perhaps has been most meaningful in your life, and again, either personally or professionally?
[Chase] I mean, I wouldn't say maybe not something specifically that I can point to but I think the entire experience of being at North Georgia, you know, just interacting with the different professors, the different advisors that I had; the Military Science Department staff; the Professor of Military Science staff. Just meeting the people that I was in classes with and you know, folks in the Corps of Cadets that I got to meet. Just the entire experience here really had a huge part in shaping who I am today.
You know, building my leadership skills and just a super solid foundation to be ready to, you know, meet challenges, whether it was on active duty or come now in my current roles.
[Interviewer] In closing Chase, what do you have to say to our viewers, whether prospective students, current students or former students, including your colleagues and peers?
[Chase] Well, I guess prospective students, what I would say is, you know, look at what your passions are and try to align your degree up with those passions. You know, for me, Political Science, again, has always been a passion of mine. Politics in general, you know? So, find out what that passion is, and maybe you take your freshman year and really discover what that passion is, but whatever it is, just lean into it and learn all you can while you're here.
And that kind of leads into current students. You know, really engage with your classes. You know, don't just do the bare minimum to get by and pass and move on to the next class. Really engage with the professors because you've got some, just subject matter experts that are world renowned here, and just lean into them and ask, you know, ask them questions and you will thank yourself 10-15-20 years from now when you're still looking back on the courses you had here and impact that it made on you.
And classmates -- Don't be afraid to come back to campus and engage with current students and just see all the great things that are going on here and all the changes that I think are making North Georgia an even better place than when we were here.
[Interviewer] Well, I want to thank you for your time, Chase, and taking time out of what I know, is a very busy schedule for you working for Representative Loudermilk. Thanks for your service in the Army and I sincerely hope you will continue to #experiencemore as we say now, with the help of your degree and your contacts from the University of North Georgia and our Political Science & International Affairs Department.
[Chase] Absolutely, thanks for having me.
Good afternoon, Chase. And thanks for coming.
[Chase] Hey, thanks for having me. Glad to be here.
[Interviewer] Over the past 17 or so years, you've traveled from being a student at Dominion Christian to your current position in Congressman Loudermilk's office -- quite a journey. I'd like to explore that journey a little with our viewers. To start us off, please tell us a little bit about yourself. Who exactly is Chase Sanger?
[Chase] Yeah. So, you know, I grew up in Cobb County, Georgia and as you said, went to Dominion Christian there for high school. And, you know, when I was getting, you know, my junior year, I knew, I'd always known that I wanted to join the military, join the Army, and I was looking at University of North Georgia, which at the time was North Georgia College and State University. And then at some of the other military schools like Virginia Military Institute.
I came up here, I had the opportunity to come to North Georgia and got the tour of the campus; ended up doing the National Leadership Challenge weekend. And after that weekend, that really solidified for me that North Georgia was the place that I belonged, and the place that I wanted to be. And, so from my junior year in high school on, I knew I'd go to North Georgia assuming they'd accept me. Which they did. And you know enjoyed my time here.
I was a Charlie Company frog; Charlie Mike to those of you out there that are Charlie folks, who are going to be Charlie. After my time in the Corps I commissioned active duty with the Army into the Chemical branch and I was branch detailed to Chemical and Signal, which was my first choice. So Fort Leonardwood, Missouri for my Officer Basic. Then from there my first assignment was 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. I had had the opportunity to go through airborne school while here at North Georgia during one of my summers, so I was already airborne qualified and that was a great place to be as a young lieutenant.
[Interviewer] Let's go back to when you first joined the PSIA family. What got you into political science as an undergrad, as a field of study? And why that degree specifically?
[Chase] Yeah. So, you know, I was always interested in politics growing up. Ever since I was a little kid, my parents had me in a wagon campaigning for like local judges and Solicitor General, and things like that in Cobb County. So I'd been exposed to politics at a very young age, and when I found out that you could actually major in that and the Army didn't care what you know my bachelor's was in as long as I got one. So I was like, well, Political Science is where I definitely want to be.
So, so I pretty much went into freshman year knowing that I wanted to be a Political Science major and yeah, just fell in love with the Department and the professors and advisor that I had, and it was just pretty much just done deal. I guess when I first came here I knew that's what I wanted to do.
[Interviewer] After you left the Army, what brought you specifically to his office?
[Chase] Yeah. So, you know, it was about four years after I left active duty to when I joined his office and in the interim I worked, I opened a global programs office at the Texas A&M School of Law out in Fort Worth, Texas. They had just opened it and I kind of came on board to help jump start that program. But I knew I wanted to get into something political, something in the federal government. That was always the aspiration of mine.
So I was actually at USAJobs and looking for something in Atlanta, because I was from Atlanta. I was living in Texas and I found a Wounded Warrior Fellowship program, in Congressman Loudermilk's office. And then I was like, wow, this is, you know, my home congressional district actually, and the Wounded Warrior Fellowship didn't really know what that was. But that was a two-year program that I did. And then when that ended about 2.5 years ago, Congressman Loudermilk offered me a position full-time on his regular staff. And that's what I've been doing ever since.
And my job is basically community relations, so I'm his representative at the Chambers of Commerce; Business Associations. I'm a liaison with county and city governments. Also state-level elected officials. And it's just an opportunity for the Congressman to stay engaged in the local community while he's up in Washington working on legislation, he can have me out there at events, staying engaged and finding out what concerns constituents have.
[Interviewer] Looking back over your journey from high school student to Georgia Congressional staffer, what has, and I guess, what is, your Political Science degree, or Political Science background – what has it done, and I guess maybe more importantly, what is it doing currently for you both professionally and personally?
[Chase] Yeah. No. It provided a great foundation, you know, and just understanding of issues. You know, I can remember some of the classes I took specifically that, you know, I lean on, you know, quite often, our Congressional class with Carl Cavalli, who I believe is still one of the professors here. I just remember that class specifically just about how Congress is structured and how things actually get done on committees, and it's just helpful for me to understand that process when I'm talking to people out in the community. They may not know how that stuff works, but you know the course work that I had here at North Georgia, International Politics classes, I took, Dr. Miner; Dr. Harris. I could go on and on and name specific professors and I can still remember content from those classes that's still relevant.
[Interviewer] Again, looking back at your time here at North Georgia, is there any particular aspect that you can narrow down that perhaps has been most meaningful in your life, and again, either personally or professionally?
[Chase] I mean, I wouldn't say maybe not something specifically that I can point to but I think the entire experience of being at North Georgia, you know, just interacting with the different professors, the different advisors that I had; the Military Science Department staff; the Professor of Military Science staff. Just meeting the people that I was in classes with and you know, folks in the Corps of Cadets that I got to meet. Just the entire experience here really had a huge part in shaping who I am today.
You know, building my leadership skills and just a super solid foundation to be ready to, you know, meet challenges, whether it was on active duty or come now in my current roles.
[Interviewer] In closing Chase, what do you have to say to our viewers, whether prospective students, current students or former students, including your colleagues and peers?
[Chase] Well, I guess prospective students, what I would say is, you know, look at what your passions are and try to align your degree up with those passions. You know, for me, Political Science, again, has always been a passion of mine. Politics in general, you know? So, find out what that passion is, and maybe you take your freshman year and really discover what that passion is, but whatever it is, just lean into it and learn all you can while you're here.
And that kind of leads into current students. You know, really engage with your classes. You know, don't just do the bare minimum to get by and pass and move on to the next class. Really engage with the professors because you've got some, just subject matter experts that are world renowned here, and just lean into them and ask, you know, ask them questions and you will thank yourself 10-15-20 years from now when you're still looking back on the courses you had here and impact that it made on you.
And classmates -- Don't be afraid to come back to campus and engage with current students and just see all the great things that are going on here and all the changes that I think are making North Georgia an even better place than when we were here.
[Interviewer] Well, I want to thank you for your time, Chase, and taking time out of what I know, is a very busy schedule for you working for Representative Loudermilk. Thanks for your service in the Army and I sincerely hope you will continue to #experiencemore as we say now, with the help of your degree and your contacts from the University of North Georgia and our Political Science & International Affairs Department.
[Chase] Absolutely, thanks for having me.