Join us for our one service at 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary for our annual Patriotic Sunday service, featuring guest speakers the Honorable Julie Adams Jacobs, Cobb County Superior Court Judge, and Command Sergeant Major John Ballenger, the current State Command Sergeant Major for the State of Georgia.
We invite all veterans and active duty military to be a part of the procession on Patriotic Sunday. Plan to gather in the Hodges Garden Courtyard outside the Sanctuary 15 minutes before the worship service. Military branches will be recognized during the service.
About the Speakers
Command Sergeant Major John Ballenger
Command Sergeant Major John Ballenger is currently the State Command Sergeant Major for the State of Georgia. He was born and raised in Bowdon, Georgia and enlisted in the Active Army in 1995 as an Artilleryman in the 4-11 Field Artillery (Airborne), Fort Wainwright Alaska. CSM Ballenger transitioned into the Georgia Army National Guard and was assigned to HHC 1/108th Armor.
He mobilized and deployed to S.W. Asia as a Section Sergeant in HHC 1/108th Scout Platoon in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III 05’-06’. CSM Ballenger has held all leadership positions to include the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team CSM, 1st Squadron 108th Cavalry CSM, and five First Sergeant positions. CSM Ballenger has held numerous positions to include the Georgia G3 Operations CSM, State Training NCO Georgia (G3), Battalion Operations NCO for the 3-108th CAV, Logistics NCO for the 201st Homeland Response Force, and the Branch Chief for the 122nd Regiment (RTI). CSM Ballenger also served as the 48th IBCT Brigade Operations Sergeant Major that included an XCTC, JRTC, and a mobilization to Afghanistan in support of Operation Resolute Support in 2018-2019. He has participated in numerous Federal, State, CONUS, and OCONUS operations to include 2 JRTC and 2 NTC rotations, operations in and around Africa, Scotland, Canada, France, Kuwait, Netherlands, Country of Georgia, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
CSM Ballenger holds a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Management (Magna Cum Laude) from the American Military University. He is a graduate from the U.S. Army Infantry School, Cavalry School, Artillery School, Airborne School, Air Assault School, Arctic Warfare Training Course, Cavalry Leaders Course, Battle Staff, as well as numerous other courses. CSM Ballenger has attended all levels of the Noncommissioned Officers PME to include the First Sergeants Course, the US Army Sergeant Major Academy (Class 41), and the Army Normative Leaders Course.
His awards and decorations include: Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal (6th award), Army Commendation Medal (3rd award), Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (7th award), Army Good Conduct Medal (4th award), Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (3rd award), National Defense Service Medal (2nd award), Iraq Campaign Medal w/ 2 Bronze Service Stars, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/ Hourglass/“M”/2 Device, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (with numeral 6), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (3rd award), Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (with numeral 3), NATO Afghanistan Medal, GA Oglethorpe Distinguished Service Medal, GA Distinguished Service Medal, GA Meritorious Service Medal (4th award), GA Commendation Medal (5th award), GA Pandemic Response Ribbon, GA Humanitarian Service Ribbon (2nd award), GA Special Operations Ribbon, GA National Guard Service Medal, GA State Active Duty Ribbon (6th award), GA National Guard Recruiting Ribbon, and the Alabama Special Service Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation, and the GA Distinguished Service Unit Ribbon. CSM Ballenger has also been awarded the Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Australian, German, Canadian, Brazilian, Netherlands, and Italian parachutist Badge, and the Polish Army Marksmanship Medal. He has also received the Order of St. George Medallion and Order of St. Maurice.
Command Sergeant Major Ballenger resides in Cartersville GA with his wife Brooke, and their two sons SPC Chandler Ballenger (GAANG) and Charlie.
The Honorable Julie Adams Jacobs
Judge Julie Adams Jacobs was appointed to serve as a Superior Court Judge in Cobb County on August 15, 2022.
Prior to being appointed to this position, Judge Jacobs served in the Georgia Attorney General’s Office for almost 20 years. She began her legal career in the Criminal Division where she conducted more than 200 bench trials in superior courts across Georgia and personally handled more than 40 criminal appeals in the Georgia Supreme Court, including habeas corpus and murder appeals.
Judge Jacobs subsequently transferred to the Business and Finance Section where she represented the State of Georgia in numerous civil litigation matters in state and federal courts, including trial and appellate litigation. She also provided general representation to state agencies and authorities in the areas of contract disputes, procurement, banking, lottery operations, bankruptcy, securities, hospital acquisitions, and general business litigation matters. As part of her practice, she also assisted the Attorney General with the regulation of charitable and nonprofit entities. In addition, she served as the hearing officer in more than a dozen hospital acquisitions involving the Attorney General’s review under the Georgia Hospital Acquisition Act.
Judge Jacobs became the Section Chief of the Business and Finance Section in 2014, and the Deputy Attorney General of the Commercial Transactions and Litigation Division in 2020. As Deputy Attorney General, Judge Jacobs managed more than 40 attorneys and support staff, and her responsibilities included the management of the financial and property interests of state government in the areas of business and finance, tax, real property, construction, and transportation.
The Fulton County Daily Report recognized Judge Jacobs with its 2016 “On The Rise” award as one of the top 25 attorneys in Georgia under the age of 40. Judge Jacobs was also recognized by LiveSafe Resources as an honoree at the 2024 Tribute to Women in Achievement. She is a member of the 2019 class of Leadership Cobb and the 2020 class of Honorary Commanders. She is a member of Cobb Executive Women, the Cobb Bar Association and the Atlanta Lawyers Club.
Judge Jacobs is a 2003 graduate of Emory University School of Law, and she received her B.A. in political science from Georgia State University. Judge Jacobs is a longtime resident of Cobb County where she lives with her husband Chad and two children.