The Troy University Board of Trustees has elected retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Edward F. Crowell as the board’s Vice-President Pro Tempore.

Crowell fills the leadership position left vacant by the death of Trustee Lamar P. Higgins, who passed away in April following an extended illness.

Crowell and Dothan-area businessman Charles Nailen, who were both appointed to the Board in 2009, were recently reappointed by Gov. Kay Ivey.

“General Crowell and Mr. Nailen are proven leaders who have made a profound impact on Troy University through their service on the Board of Trustees,” said Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor. “I look forward to their continued service, and I am grateful for General Crowell’s willingness to assume this leadership role within the Board.” 

Crowell, who was a recent candidate for Mayor of the City of Montgomery, retired from VT Miltope as its president and CEO. His corporate career includes work with Blount, Inc.

Crowell is a proud veteran of the Air Force and the Reserves, with more than 35 years of service. He retired from the USAF at Maxwell Air Force Base in March 2009, where he had served as commandant of the Air War College and vice commander of Air University while serving an extended tour of active duty and most recently as mobilization assistant to the Commander of Air University. He is recipient of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit and Meritorious Service Medals along with a host of others.

In addition to his service on the TROY Board of Trustees, Crowell was appointed to serve on the State Health Planning and Development Agency’s Certificate of Need Review Board and is a past chairman of the State of Alabama’s Ethics Commission. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, the Montgomery Metro YMCA, which named him Man of the Year 2018, the Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100, and Chairman of the Board of Central Alabama OIC.

Crowell is a graduate of Alabama State University with a degree in business administration and economics, Troy University with a Master of Business Administration, Air University’s Air Command & Staff College and Air War College. He also attended Auburn University School of Business. He is married to Ernestine Jordan Crowell. They have two children.

Nailen has served on the Board of Trustees since 2003. Nailen and his wife, Kay, are owners of BBG Specialty Foods, Inc. – a franchise of Taco Bell Corporation, and GGG Foods, Inc. – a franchise of KFC Corporation. They currently operate restaurants in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. 

He is a member of the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Friends of Fort Rucker Task Force, Board and Executive Committee member of the Army Aviation Museum Foundation, Inc., member of the Association of the United States Army, board member of the Dothan-Houston County Airport Authority and the Business Council of Alabama. 

Nailen has received numerous awards throughout his career, among them were the Friend of Education Award, presented by the Dothan Education Association, the Small Business Person of the Year Award, presented by the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce, the Franchise Leadership Award, presented by Taco Bell Corporation, the Community Service Award, presented by Troy University, and the Outstanding Regional Advisory Committee Chairman Award, presented by the Business Council of Alabama.  In 2018, he was honored as a member of the Dothan Business Hall of Fame.