Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council has appointed Chris Harvey as its new executive director. Harvey will take over the position following the retirement of Mike Ayers at the end of this month.
“I’m honored to congratulate Chris Harvey on this new and important chapter of his career, and Marty and I want to thank him for his willingness to serve in this capacity as we work to keep all Georgians safe,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “I know Chris is committed to ensuring Georgia POST continues to prepare our law enforcement for the challenges and dangers of their calling as it equips them with the knowledge and skills needed to respond to any situation they encounter as they protect and serve others. My family also wants to thank Mike Ayers for his many years of service to our state, and we wish him well in his next chapter.”
Chris Harvey holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science and criminal justice from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina. His career in law enforcement began with the DeKalb County Police Department in 1994, where he later worked as a homicide detective. He also served as chief investigator for the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office, directed the Cold Case Homicide Squad for Fulton County District Attorney’s Office, and was chief investigator for the Secretary of State’s Office.
In 2015, Harvey became state elections director for the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office, overseeing two presidential elections, one gubernatorial election, and implementing Georgia’s new voting system. In July 2021, he was appointed deputy executive director of the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council.
Harvey resides in Decatur, Georgia, with his wife Cathy. They have four children.
