Dr. Ron Newcomb, selected as Cobb County Citizen of the Year 

Dr. Ron Newcomb, president emeritus of Chattahoochee Technical College, has been named Cobb County Citizen of the Year by the Marietta Daily Journal. The announcement was made at the Cobb Chamber’s annual dinner, held at the Cobb Galleria Centre, in front of a packed room of 1,100 attendees from business, government, and community sectors.

Dr. Newcomb, whose leadership career spanned over three decades, was lauded for his resilience and dedication in the face of numerous challenges, including economic downturns, college mergers, and the COVID-19 pandemic. His leadership helped transform Chattahoochee Technical College into one of Georgia’s largest technical colleges, serving over 11,000 students across nine campuses.

In his acceptance speech, Newcomb humbly credited the collective efforts of his colleagues at Chattahoochee Technical College and the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), as well as the students, for his achievements. “I can’t accept this for anything Ron Newcomb did. I accept it for all the folks back at TCSG and Chatt. Tech, the faculty, the staff, and students who want to come to get the skills and knowledge to have a better life for themselves and their family,” he said.

Newcomb’s career began in 1988 when he moved to Bartow County to help establish North Metro Technical Institute, which eventually became part of Chattahoochee Technical College after a merger in 2009. Under his leadership, the institution grew significantly, offering more than 50 programs across a variety of fields, including healthcare, business, and technical trades. In 2012, he became the president of the merged institution and oversaw its further development.

In August 2024, Newcomb announced his retirement, marking the end of his distinguished service to Georgia’s public education system and local government. In addition to his work in education, Newcomb also served on the Smyrna City Council and worked closely with multiple Georgia governors. As an education adviser, Newcomb played a key role in shaping policies that transitioned technical institutes into colleges, reduced class sizes, and established the nonpartisan Education Accountability Office.

During the award ceremony, a video was played which featured interviews with several prominent figures who praised Newcomb for his vision and dedication to improving education.