Michael J. Higgs

Dr. Michael J. Higgs is a native of Savannah GA and currently resides in Tallahassee FL. He has 44 years of leadership and management experience as a Naval Officer and Federal Civil Servant. Now retired from Civil Service, his final position was as the Deputy Commander of the Navy Personnel Command. In that role, he oversaw the execution of a $1B budget and a staff of 4000 active duty, civil service, and contractor personnel. This organization was tasked with manning Navy units around the world and providing the full spectrum of talent management, career management, and personnel support services to 370,000 active-duty Sailors, Reservists, and their Families.  Dr. Higgs previously served as the Deputy Director of Business Operations, the Deputy Chief Information Officer, and the Director of Strategic Planning and Implementation of the Bureau of Naval Personnel.

His education includes an MBA from Webster University, an MPA from UNC Charlotte, an MA in National Security and Strategic Studies from the US Naval War College, and a DPA earned here at Valdosta State. Dr. Higgs previously taught various public policy and public administration topics at the University of Memphis, Memphis TN from 1999 to 2008 and has taught public administration topics for VSU since 2015.