Former U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss returned to his alma mater Mondayto speak to University of Georgia students about his 20 years of experience in the U.S. Congress. Chambliss, a 1966 graduate of UGA, retired as Georgia’s senior senator last year.

While speaking to an undergraduate U.S. National Security Policy course led by doctoral candidate Kayce Mobley, Chambliss drew from his committee assignments while in Congress. Before leaving the Senate, Chambliss was the vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, which oversees the nation’s intelligence activities and programs. Prior to his election to the Senate, Chambliss was chairman of the House Intelligence Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security.

“It’s a great joy to return to the University of Georgia for the first time since leaving office,” Chambliss said. “This university equipped me for my career in Washington, so I am glad for the opportunity to return to campus and pass on what I have learned to our future leaders.”

Chambliss, who practiced law in Moultrie before assuming office, also spoke to first- and second-year law students in associate professor Timothy Meyer’s Public International Law class. He reminded students in both classes that the future of the country is in their hands.

“Sen. Chambliss is one of the most well-respected statesmen and public servants our country has known,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “During his tenure in office, he was a faithful champion for Georgians and a staunch supporter of higher education. We are grateful for his support of the University of Georgia, and we look forward to his future accomplishments.”

Chambliss was first elected to Congress in 1994 to represent Georgia’s 8th Congressional District. In 2002, he was elected to the U.S. Senate. In addition to his role as vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Chambliss was a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee; the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; and the Senate Rules Committee. While in Congress, Chambliss was involved in several major areas of legislative policy, particularly national defense, homeland security, cybersecurity and agriculture. A co-founder of the 2011 Gang of Six, Chambliss worked on bipartisan reduction of the deficit and debt in the U.S.

Chambliss received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from UGA in 1966 and his Juris Doctor from the University of Tennessee in 1968. He and his wife, Julianne, live in Moultrie and have two children and six grandchildren.

For more information about the Office of Government Relations, see http://dar.uga.edu/government_relations/.