Governor Nathan Deal has appointed a new member to the board of the Department of Juvenile Justice.

Department Commissioner L. Gale Buckner plans to confirm the appointment of Adam J. Kennedy of Claxton during the next regular board meeting. Kennedy is currently the court administrator of the Chatham County Juvenile Court in Savannah, a post he has held since September 2011.

He is a former regional administrator for the department, retiring last year as administrator over 44 counties in the department's southeast region. During his 27-year agency career he was responsible for all community and detention programs in the region.

The board is composed of 15 members representing each congressional district in the state. Board members are appointed by the governor and provide leadership and guidance to the commissioner.

Tags: Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, Gale Buckner, Adam J. Kennedy