Mick Zais
| Mitchell M. "Mick" Zais | |
|---|---|
| 17th South Carolina Superintendent of Education | |
|
In office January 12, 2011 – January 13, 2015 |
|
| Governor | Nikki Haley |
| Preceded by | Jim Rex |
| Succeeded by | Molly Spearman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 10, 1946 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater |
United States Military Academy University of Washington |
| Occupation | soldier, politician |
Mitchell M. "Mick" Zais (born December 10, 1946) served as the 17th South Carolina Superintendent of Education from 2011 to 2015. Zais took the oath of office on January 12, 2011. Before winning the election, he served as President of Newberry College for ten years. Priot to that he reached the rank of Brigadier General in the United States Military.
Zais earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from West Point, a Master of Science and a doctorate in social psychology and organizational behavior both from the University of Washington and a Master of Arts in military history from the School of Advanced Military Studies at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
During his military career, Zais served in a wide variety of infantry units in Vietnam, the United States, and Korea. He commanded two rifle companies, an infantry battalion, a light infantry brigade, and served as deputy commanding general at Fort Riley, Kansas. Zais was also the Pentagon's Chief of War Plans. As an assistant professor at West Point for three years, he taught organizational behavior, leadership, and management consulting.
Zais served as a White House aide and in Panama as executive assistant to the four-star commander of all U.S. forces in Central and South America. In Kuwait, he was commanding general of U.S. and Allied forces. He also served as commanding general of Operation Provide Refuge, the task force that cared for 4,000 Kosovo refugees who entered the United States. Zais' last military assignment was as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army Reserve Command, the headquarters that administers the 184,000 part-time Reservists, 9,000 civilian employees, and 11,000 full-time military members of the Army Reserve. At the time of his retirement from the military Zais held the rank of Brigadier General.
Zais' military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal; the Defense Superior Service Medal; the Legion of Merit; the Bronze Star; the Meritorious Service Medal; the Air Medal; the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; the Humanitarian Service Medal; the Ranger, Airborne, and Combat Infantryman's Badges; and the South Carolina Meritorious Service Medal.
Zais became the president of Newberry College in August 2000. During his time at Newberry, both enrollment and endowment nearly doubled. The college added forensic chemistry and nursing to the academic curriculum. During the last three years of his tenure, Newberry College was named by U.S. News and World Report as one of America's best colleges. He retired in June 2010, just prior to running for state superintendent.
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