Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin has appointed Terry Coleman of Eastman as deputy commissioner at the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

Coleman served in the Georgia House of Representatives including serving as Speaker of the House for the 2003-2004 Legislative Session. He began working at the Department of Agriculture as a consultant in January assisting with the Department's programs and budgets.

"I value Speaker Coleman's 34 years of experience serving in the House, especially his 12 years as chairman of the Appropriations Committee, and his longstanding involvement with agricultural issues within the state legislature and his experience in the retail food business all his adult life," said Commissioner Irvin.

"I especially want Terry to work with our International Trade and Homeland Security teams as well as assist with legislative issues," said Irvin. "There is no shortage of things to do."