Hunter Hill biography

Early life and education

Hunter Hill was born in Atlanta in 1977. In 2018 the Atlanta Journal-Constitution noted that he had played quarterback at The Westminster School in Atlanta and at West Point, a detail his campaign used in a television ad that year.

He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a bachelor's degree in general management.

Army service

Hill was commissioned as an infantry officer. He completed Airborne, Air Assault and Ranger schools. Wikipedia's account says he took command of a rifle platoon in the 101st Airborne Division in June 2001 and led it into Afghanistan in 2002.

GEFA's biography of him, published when he became its executive director, gives the summary that most later sources repeat: three combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, leadership of five teams, two Bronze Stars, and a stint as a general's aide in Iraq. During the 2018 campaign the AJC reported that he had been part of the team involved in the 2003 raid that killed Saddam Hussein's sons, Uday and Qusay.

Business career

According to GEFA, Hill joined Carter and Associates in 2005 and held leadership roles on large commercial real estate developments. He later served as president of Tommy Newberry Coaching, an executive and leadership coaching firm. When patch.com profiled him as a candidate in 2011, it described him as a Smyrna businessman.

After the 2018 campaign he was a partner and director of growth at SignatureFD, an Atlanta wealth management firm, before joining GEFA. GEFA's 2022 release also said he chaired The Warrior Alliance.

Politics

Hill first ran for the Georgia State Senate in 2008 and lost to Democratic incumbent Doug Stoner in District 6. After the district was redrawn in 2011, he ran again in 2012, won a three-way Republican primary and unseated Stoner. He was re-elected in 2014 and 2016.

In late April 2017 he entered the race for the 2018 Republican nomination for governor. In August 2017 he announced he would resign his Senate seat to campaign full time, criticizing rivals who kept their offices while running. He finished third in the May 22, 2018 primary with 18.3 percent. Before the July runoff he endorsed Brian Kemp, who went on to win the nomination and the governorship.

The details are on the public service and elections pages.

After the 2018 race

In June 2019 Gov. Kemp nominated Hill, along with a member of his own staff, for an open seat on the State Charter Schools Commission. The AJC reported the nomination; we have not found a record confirming whether Hill was then appointed, so we leave that open.

GEFA executive director

The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority manages state programs for Georgia's energy, land and water resources, including financing for water and sewer systems. Hill was GEFA's deputy director when its board, on Gov. Kemp's recommendation, named him executive director in May 2022. He took over on July 1, 2022, succeeding Kevin Clark, who retired.

On November 13, 2025 the governor's office announced that the board had approved Trey Bennett as executive director effective November 16, succeeding Hill. The release said Hill had served since July 1, 2022 and would continue his career in the private sector.

Family

Wikipedia and Ballotpedia state that Hill is married and has two children. His family members are private individuals, and this site does not publish their names, photos or other details.