Ronald Applin has over 32 years of law enforcement experience and is the current Chief of Police of the Atlanta Public Schools Police Department. As a graduate of Atlanta Public Schools, he went on to serve 6 years in the United States Marine Corps Reserves. He retired as a Captain from the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office where he served for 21 years. In 2011, he became a faculty member with Reinhardt University Public Safety Institute, where he continues to serve, teaching undergraduate and graduate level criminal justice courses. He also taught in the Law and Justice Program at Creekside High School. Prior to his appointment as Chief, he served as the Director of Security at Landmark Christian School. Chief Applin earned a Bachelor of Science Social Science in Criminal Justice from Mercer University, Master of Public Administration from Troy University, and has completed all coursework, with the exception of a dissertation, for his PhD in Criminal Justice from Capella University. He is also graduate of the FBI National Academy 220th Session and a graduate of the inaugural class of Mercer University's Public Safety Leadership Institute.