Mike Fordham is graduate of Georgia State University, with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and was graduated from Columbus State University with a Masters in Public Administration. In 2013 he was graduated from the U.S. Army War College with a Master of Strategic Studies. He was commissioned in 1991 after completing Officer Candidate School at Georgia Military Institute. His first tour of duty in Bryan County was from 1983 – 1987 as a Special Agent with the GBI’s Savannah Regional Drug Enforcement Office (SRDEO). He returned to Bryan County in 2000 as the Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the SRDEO and in 2001 was deployed to Bosnia & Herzegovina as a Rifle Company Commander in the 48th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized). He served in subsequent combat deployments to Iraq as Military Police Plans and Operations Officer for the U.S. Regional Embassy Office in Mosul and Executive Officer, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Afghanistan.

Upon returning from BiH Fordham was assigned as the SAC in the GBI Director’s Office at GBI Headquarters with responsibilities to conduct special investigations, legislative liaison, and public affairs while his family remained in Bryan County. “Since 2000 the citizens of Bryan County and Fort Stewart have supported me and my family through our Church, the Bryan County School System, Scouts, Family Readiness Groups, and various other youth groups while I was serving our State and Nation.” he said.

In 2012, after a final overseas tour in the U.S. Embassy Office of Defense Cooperation, Tbilisi, Georgia and his retirement from the GBI, Fordham returned home to Bryan County to serve under Sheriff Clyde R. Smith as Chief of Investigations.

As the Chief of Investigations, Mike served as the chief advisor and principle assistant to the Sheriff in all matters relating to criminal investigations in Bryan County. He represented the Sheriff on the Bryan County Opioid Prevention Project, Bryan County Family Connection, and the Atlantic Judicial Circuit Child Advocacy Center.

Since 2016 he has also served as an Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice at Savannah Technical College.