GMC News
GMC Remembers Powell Allen Moore’s Life of Service
Georgia Military College Remembers Powell Allen Moore’s Life of Service
Georgia Military College is deeply saddened by the passing of Powell Allen Moore. He was born in Milledgeville, Georgia on January 5, 1938. Moore, as with many in his family, attended Georgia Military College Preparatory School and College for five years graduating in 1956. While at GMC, Powell earned three letters as a member of the football team, was active in publishing the campus newspaper and yearbook, and was also commanding officer of the Cadet Corps with the rank of cadet lieutenant colonel in his last year. After graduation, he attended the University of Georgia, graduated in 1959 and was commissioned as an Infantry Officer in the United States Army where he served over three years with tours in Baumholder, Germany, and Fort Benning, Georgia. He later went on to serve our country with a career in public service.
Moore began his Washington career in 1966 as Press Secretary to Senator Richard B. Russell of Georgia, and served in this capacity until Senator Russell’s death in January of 1971. He then joined the Nixon Administration, first serving as Deputy Director of Public Information for the Department of Justice, and later as a member of the White House Legislative Affairs staff.
He was Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs during the first term of the Administration of President George W. Bush, Sr. On January 28, 2005, he received the Defense Department’s Medal for Distinguished Public Service from Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
Moore briefly left government service in 2004, joining McKenna, Long & Aldridge law firm. Two years later he returned to government service when United States Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld named Moore as his representative to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. In 2009 Moore left government service again, joining Venable LLP law firm.
Active in public policy affairs in Washington for more than 38 years, Moore served as Chief of Staff for Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee; as Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs under President Reagan; and on the White House staff under Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Reagan.
Before Lieutenant General William B. Caldwell, IV, was President of Georgia Military College, he too worked in Washington at the Pentagon and worked frequently with Moore.
“I worked very closely with Secretary Powell Moore when he was the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs in the Pentagon,” Caldwell said. “He was an incredible person to work with. He was focused, very insightful, and had wonderful personal relationships with everybody on Capitol Hill. Over the two years I worked with him, I got to know him very well. He was a true southern gentleman. He treated everyone with enormous respect and dignity and it was a wonderful experience being able to watch and learn from someone that understands others and was able to bring folks together to achieve so much.”
Nearly ten years later, General Caldwell and Moore’s paths would cross again, this time coming full circle at Georgia Military College. As an alumnus, Moore kept an eye on his alma mater.
“Over these past five years we’ve kept in touch since I’ve assumed the position as President of GMC,” Caldwell said. “He’s provided very insightful thoughts, wonderful things to consider, and he’s given me great historical perspective as to why some things are done the way they are. He has been a tremendous mentor for me as the President. He was always there as a sounding board providing wonderful advice. He would also always ask, ‘how can I help, what do you need?’ He wanted to know how he could assist in making his alma mater the best it could be.”
Randy New, Chairman of the GMC Board of Trustees, says Moore’s influence over the years has been invaluable.
“As you can imagine, Powell Moore was a busy man but that didn’t stop him from helping out at GMC,” New said. “He was always interested in what was going on and to know how he could help. His advice, counsel, and guidance over the years as an alumnus means a great deal to this institution. He was an asset as a member of the Presidents search when we hired General Caldwell. His knowledge of the candidates and his advice to me as Chairman of the committee was invaluable. When we came to a decision, he helped ensure we were all in agreement. He will be missed but not forgotten.”
His family roots at GMC run deep and in 1999, the descendants of Jeremiah Nueville Moore, a relative of Powell Moore, and a founder of Georgia Military College, as well as long-time member of the GMC Board of Trustees, established the Moore Family Fund for Faculty Enrichment. Its purpose is to promote quality writing instruction at Georgia Military College through professional development in education and training programs for faculty members.
As many Americans will remember Moore for his service to our country, those in Milledgeville will also remember the legacy he leaves behind as a resident of the community, and also as an alumnus of Georgia Military College.
