Gov. Kemp taps former Cobb Police Chief Michael Register to head GBI

Aug. 15—Michael Register, assistant chief deputy to Cobb Sheriff Craig Owens and the former chief of the Cobb County Police Department, has been named by Gov. Brian Kemp as the next head of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Register's appointment, pending approval by the Board of Public Safety, comes as outgoing GBI Director Vic Reynolds was sworn in as a Cobb County Superior Court judge.

"Mike has a strong track record of strengthening public safety and protecting Georgia's communities," Kemp said Monday. "I'm looking forward to his impact on this important agency that makes our entire state a safer and better place to live, work, and raise our families."

Register, who joined the sheriff's office after Owens' 2020 election, was previously the Cobb County director of public safety. He has also served as chief of police of Clayton County.

The sheriff's office issued a news release congratulating Register Monday afternoon.

"Assistant Chief Michael Register is a dynamic leader and law enforcement professional. He has been instrumental in helping Sheriff Owens transform the culture at the sheriff's office," the release said. "Sheriff Owens and the men and women of the Cobb County Sheriff's Office express our appreciation for his service to the people of Cobb County and we wish him all the best in his new role serving our great state."

Register's resume includes service in the U.S. Army Special Forces for more than 20 years, including combat operations in Afghanistan, and also includes experience working with the FBI and at the Pentagon. He worked for Cobb Police from 1986 to 2005, serving in many tactical, operational and leadership positions, including assistant academy director and assistant SWAT and tactical team commander.