Adrian Bentley Nettles, a decorated military officer and practicing lawyer, will head the agency, succeeding Sherry Cook, who announced in April she would step down as executive director after a series of scandals and resignations.
“Brigadier General Bentley Nettles is a tested leader whose integrity, skills and experience, in both the military and the private sector, make him the ideal choice to get the TABC back on track,” Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement. “As a highly decorated military officer, and Texas lawyer, General Nettles has dedicated his life to serving Texans and his country, and I am confident he will continue to be a dedicated public servant in his new role. I have no doubt that his steady hand will restore trust in the agency, and I look forward to working with him in his new role.”
Bentley was released from active duty in 2015 and currently has a practice focused on assisting veterans with issues related to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, estate practice, Medicaid and small business.