Lonnie Gilmore, a former Fayetteville native, has been named the new chief of staff for the Defense Education Activity Southeast district in Fort Benning, Georgia. 

Gilmore began his career in 2006 as a middle school teacher in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He earned both a masters degree in teaching and a bachelor’s degree in history from Fayetteville State University along with a master’s in school administration form the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. 

Along with serving on various school improvement teams, Gilmore has also been named Teacher of the Year and initiated various after school tutoring and mentor  programs. Gilmore worked in Cape Fear High School, Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School and North Garner Middle School in North Carolina before joining the Department of Defense Education as principal of Fort Knox High School in 2018.

Gilmore served active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps at a number of installations, including Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Naval Air Station Meridian, Mississippi; and Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina.

“It was an honor serving my country in the United States Marine Corps and a privilege to be an educator in service to military-connected families. A commitment to quality instruction is the keystone to my purpose. As chief of staff, I will represent the Southeast District with excellence and stay true to DoDEAs mission,” said Gilmore in a press release.