The Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division announces that Sgt. Rick Sellars has been promoted to the rank of captain and is the new supervisor of Region V, which covers 29 counties in southwest Georgia.

Sellars, who resides in Grady County, began his new assignment on Jan. 1, replacing retiring 30-year veteran Capt. Jeff Swift.

“With his knowledge and experience, I am convinced that Captain Sellars will be an outstanding leader for our southwest Georgia region,” said DNR Law Enforcement Director Col. Eddie Henderson. “He is a proven professional who works very hard for the citizens in his region and I am confident that will continue in his new assignment.”

Sellars, who has spent his entire career in the southwest Georgia region, started with DNR Law Enforcement in 1990, was promoted to ranger first class in 1992, corporal in 1997, and made sergeant in October 2000.

Sellars’ dedication and work ethic has been recognized by his peers, the division command staff, and numerous others throughout his career. In 2009, he was presented both the Governor’s Award for Valor and the Peace Officers of Georgia Award for Valor.

He was the 2000 Georgia DNR State Ranger of the Year and the division’s 2008 supervisor of the year. He earned multiple officer of the year awards from the Exchange Club, the Southwest Georgia Sportsmen’s Club and DNR Law Enforcement Region V. Sellars also has supervised seven state award recipients.