John Spiegel Answers to Professor, President/CEO, and Commanding Officer听
John Spiegel has some impressive titles 鈥� 海角社区Associate Theatre Professor and President/CEO of Spiegel Films 鈥� but perhaps none more impressive than Commanding Officer in the Georgia State Defense Force (GSDF). Spiegel joined the GSDF, similar to the National Guard and referred to as the Georgia State Guard, 15 years ago.
Service is a family tradition. His grandfather, Charles 鈥淐y鈥� Perkins, was an admiral and a hero pilot in the U.S. Navy who earned the Navy Cross for actions during the World War II battle of Midway.
鈥淗is plane got all shot up, but he saved his guys,鈥� Spiegel said. He remembers a talk he had with his grandfather about joining the service. The military hero told his grandson: 鈥淚 served. You don鈥檛 have to.鈥�
Spiegel went to Davidson College in North Carolina to earn his undergraduate degree in theatre. He achieved a Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He started his teaching career in 2003 and joined 海角社区 in 2009.
Two years later, Spiegel enlisted in the State Guard as a private, worked his way up to Staff Sergeant, and soon after completed Officer Candidate School. He is now a captain and commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion 1st Brigade based in Winder. The Georgia State Defense Force is a component of the Georgia Department of Defense. Its members wear uniforms but don鈥檛 carry weapons. Spiegel鈥檚 unit participates in opposing force exercises and can be a calming presence in tense situations. The unit also provides disaster relief and recovery.
Last September, Spiegel鈥檚 unit was sent to Augusta, where Hurricane Helene left significant damage. Soaking rains and 80-100 mph winds caused trees to topple, and more than 8,000 power poles were damaged or destroyed.
鈥淚n Augusta, two or three trees would be down in just one section between two power poles. You couldn鈥檛 clear just one. You had to clear all three, and some of them pulled the power poles down,鈥� Spiegel said. 鈥淲e saw one place where an old tree ball had merged into the water line and ripped a water main up out of the ground.鈥�
Members of the Brigade cut trees, removed debris, and unblocked roads. They cleared the way to the four-unit nuclear Plant Vogtle. They distributed food, water, and blankets.
The professor and president/CEO
Theatre productions and military operations have much in common 鈥� planning the production/operation, assembling the right team(s), and meeting deadlines on or under budget.
Spiegel鈥檚 MFA is in directing. He has taught theatre history, script analysis, and, more recently, design. He also builds sets.
About a decade ago, Spiegel directed a production of听Macbeth听with a modern take using contemporary weapons. The production included 42 blank guns and a tank Spiegel bought from a British museum that was going out of business.听
The tank was parked outside the Swanson Center for Performing Arts.听Someone with Netflix听saw it and asked Spiegel where he鈥檇 rented it.
鈥淚 said, 鈥極h, no. I own it.鈥� And he said, 鈥楲et鈥檚 talk.鈥� And we did,鈥� Spiegel said. 鈥淐offee and a tea and a dinner, and this, that, and the other, and then all of a sudden, he鈥檚 renting things from me, and someone else says, 鈥楬ey, where did you guys find this guy?鈥� And there it is.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥� is Spiegel Films. Captain/Professor John Spiegel is President and CEO.
鈥淚 do rent (weapons) to films, movies and TV. They were on 鈥楾he Walking Dead鈥� at one point. They鈥檝e been in some Marvel shows. I haven鈥檛 been on set. Some friends who do it call and say, 鈥楬ey, do you have this?鈥� 鈥榊eah, I do.鈥欌��
Spiegel Films has great growth potential. Even film companies out of California come calling and could use a hand with weaponry. In fact, an entertainment industry attorney asked Spiegel to look at a packet of information about a recent high-profile shooting. Would he be willing to testify as an expert? Sure, Spiegel told the attorney 鈥� for the other side.
Humble 海角社区 Professor. Military Commander. Chief Executive. Weapons Expert. John Spiegel is the embodiment of the involved, experienced 海角社区 professor who teaches by doing, inspires by succeeding, and leads by example.
