About Chad

Born and raised in Michigan, Chad enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1995 after graduating high school (1993), serving as a Gunner's Mate on the USS Rentz with deployments to the Arabian Gulf and Western Pacific. After earning his associate’s degree from Northwestern Michigan College in 1998, his bachelor’s (2000) and master’s degrees (2002) from Michigan State University, and his Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from the University of Maryland-College Park (2005), he then completed two postdoctoral fellowships in molecular biology at the Blood Research Institute (2005-2007) and biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2007-2010). Chad started his academic career in 2011 at Texas Tech University and joined UGA in 2015, where he teaches nutritional biochemistry and leads a research program on lipid metabolism to combat diseases like hyperlipidemia and fatty liver. Most of his work has been tied to Georgia’s commodities such as cottonseed oil and pecans, and throughout his career, he has secured over $2 million in research grants, published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles, and mentored dozens of graduate students. Chad has also led a study abroad program at UGA for several years, immersing students in the food and culture of Europe. He recently earned a master’s degree in international policy from UGA (2025), further enhancing his strategic insights on global and domestic policy issues.

In 2014, Chad was commissioned in the Army Reserve, rising to the rank of Major, where he currently serves as a Civil Affairs Officer supporting U.S Special Operations Command. He has held several leadership roles at the Team and Company levels and deployed to Uzbekistan (2020-2021) as Civil Liaison Team Chief and Somalia (2024-2025) as the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Somalia Future Operations Chief (J35), earning the Joint Commendation Medal, multiple Army Commendation Medals, and the Parachutist Badge. Chad's military experience in strategic planning, information operations, data analysis, and international policy equips him to tackle Georgia's challenges with integrity and resolve.

For over two decades, Chad has stood firm against progressive ideologies in academia, witnessing their impact on students, family values, and intellectual freedom. Now, he's ready to bring that fight to Atlanta: championing tax reform to cap property taxes and support small businesses, investing in infrastructure like roads, schools, and broadband, defending life and instilling morality in education, and promoting sustainable growth in our booming district. HD 120 needs a leader who can stand against the progressive ideology of the Athens-Clarke County region to champion the conservative values of Barrow, Jackson, and Oconee counties. As your representative, Chad will lead with faith, humility, and a commitment to limited government and personal responsibility.

Vote Chad Paton for House District 120—together, we'll build a brighter future for our families and Georgia. God Bless!