Don Drennon-Gala

Dr. Don T.D. Gala has nearly 25 years of experience in the Criminal Justice System, primarily in law enforcement. He retired in 2008 after serving 21 years as a Federal Officer/Sr. Case Manager with the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons. He is a graduate of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), Glynco, Georgia with a Certificate of Exceptional Performance. He also completed PREA auditor training through The National Advocacy Center (The NAC - SC; March 2014), and Taser Training Academy and was a certified Taser Training Instructor for law enforcement personnel (12 years). Also, he was a Certified Correctional Trainer through the Correctional Trainer Certification Commission (CTCC) (IACTP/AJA), 2008-2025.

Presently, Dr. Gala is the CEO and Chief Research Consultant with Educational Consultants Network, Inc. (non-profit - TN). Previously he was a USDOJ Certified PREA Auditor with The Gala Group, Inc. (TN) for 4-years. He previously held a joint appointment as an Associate Professor in Criminal Justice & Education at Martin Methodist College (now University of Tennessee Southern) for 4-years. He has more than eight years of teaching experience and curriculum development at the university/college level and 2-years as a full member of the graduate faculty with the University of North Carolina. He has served as an Instructor, Assistant Professor, and Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at two other colleges/universities. He has taught undergraduate and graduate courses and has served on numerous graduate thesis committees.

Dr. Gala has an Associate of Applied Science degree in Criminal Justice/Police Science, Monroe Community College (NY); Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Rochester Institute of Technology (NY); Master of Arts in Criminal Justice/Management & Administration, University of Central Oklahoma (OK); Master of Science in Education in Educational Administration, Warner Graduate School of Education & Human Development, University of Rochester (NY); and holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Education: Thought and Policy with a multi-discipline in Social Contexts in Education and Criminology from the University of Rochester (NY). Subsequently, his graduate research and publications lead Dr. Gala to be elected to membership with the American Psychological Association (APA) as a Social Psychologist.

Dr. Gala serves on various committees with the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS), Society for the Study of Social Problems (SSSP), and formally with the International Association of Correctional Training Personnel (IACTP). After 6-years he rotated off the Correctional Trainer Certification Commission (CTCC), after completing the last 2-years as the Co-Chair of the CTCC (November 1, 2013). Dr. Gala had previously served as the Co-Vice Chair for 4 years for the CTCC before being appointed as the Co-Chair. The CTCC was established jointly by the American Jail Association (AJA) and the International Association of Correctional Training Personnel (IACTP) to promote the highest ethics, integrity, and competency of correctional trainers.

Dr. Gala's research and publications include a book, book chapters, articles, and numerous presentations of scholarly work at primary professional conferences. In 1987, Dr. Gala introduced social support theory to Criminology during a presentation at a public colloquy at the University of Rochester. In 1994, after conducting field research over a five-year period he presented empirical evidence that supported this theory and indicated the importance of social support within schools and the family setting. Subsequently, in 1995 a book was published that addressed the high points of social support research conducted from 1987-1994. His work was among 34 other scholars that was used by the U.S. Senate for the National Debate Topic for High Schools, 1996-97.

He serves as a peer reviewer of work and grant proposals for the U.S. Department of Education - OPE, and U.S. Department of Justice - OJJDP/BJA/NIJ. Dr. Gala is a peer reviewer for professional journals, serves on the Editorial Board of the journal, Multicultural Learning & Teaching since 2008; and the Journal of Social Issues; a flagship peer reviewed journal of the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) since 2022.

He has numerous honors and awards, which includes being inducted into Alpha Phi Sigma, National Criminal Justice Honor Society; Pi Gamma Mu, International Honor Society in the Social Sciences; and Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society in Education. Dr. Gala received the IACTP President's Award (2014) for his service to the professional organization over a 5-year period; an IACTP Award of Appreciation for service to the Board of Directors (September 2020), and Albert Nelson's Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. He has been cited in the Marquis Who's Who in America since 2000, Who's Who in the World since 2006, and Who's Who in Education since 2004.

Dr. Gala is an active member of the American Society of Criminology (ASC), American Sociological Association (ASA), American Evaluation Association (AEA), Southern Sociological Society (SSS), Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS), American Correctional Association (ACA), American Jail Association (AJA), International Association of Correctional Training Personnel (IACTP), active in community service, and The Authors Guild, Inc. (2000-Present). He was raised as a Master Mason (F&AM: Clio #779 - NY) in early 1984 and received a certificate of appreciation for 25-years of service (April 2018).