Retired Air Force Col. Patricia M. Ross is joining Middle Georgia State University as executive director of the Georgia Military Academic Training Center in Warner Robins. Her appointment is effective April 1.
 
Active military for 25 years, Ross ended her Air Force career in 2014 as vice commander, 78th Air Base Wing, Robins Air Force Base. Her most recent position was director of Military Affairs for the Technical College System of Georgia.
 
The Military Academic Training Center, expected to open this spring, is a partnership between the University System of Georgia  and the Technical College System. Middle Georgia State University and Central Georgia Technical College are jointly operating the new center.
 
The 32,000 square-foot facility will serve as an academic and workforce gateway for veterans as they re-enter Georgia's workforce and systems of higher education. Both Central Georgia Tech and Middle Georgia State will work with veterans one-on-one to ensure that Department of Defense training and experience is appropriately recognized as these veterans pursue postsecondary credentials (certificates, associate's degrees, bachelor's degrees or master's degrees) through the University System and Technical College systems.
 
The center is located off Georgia 247 behind Huntington Middle School, close to Robins Air Force Base.