Curtis Bigelow – A Career Built on Service, Discipline, and Education

Curtis Bigelow’s career does not follow a straight line. It follows a standard. One built on service, structure, and a belief that effort matters, even when outcomes are uncertain. Over more than three decades, Bigelow has moved through military service, law enforcement, and education, carrying the same principles into each chapter.

“I’ve always believed quitting is not an option,” Bigelow says. “You adjust. You learn. And you keep moving.”

That mindset has defined a career that spans combat zones, police departments, and high school classrooms.

Early life and the foundation of discipline

Bigelow grew up in Mebane, North Carolina, where discipline first showed up through sport. At Eastern Alamance High School, he excelled in track and cross country, earning All-Conference honours for three consecutive years. He was also recognised for sportsmanship and school spirit.

“Running taught me how to suffer well,” he says. “You learn that progress comes one step at a time.”

Those lessons carried forward. Mentors played a key role early on. Bigelow credits his father, his middle school coach, and his Marine recruiter as figures who helped shape his direction.

“They didn’t just talk,” he says. “They expected action.”

Military service and leadership under pressure

Bigelow joined the United States Marine Corps Reserves, where he served for 20 years and retired as a First Sergeant. In 2003, he deployed to Iraq, earning the Combat Action Ribbon and the Presidential Unit Citation.

“Combat teaches clarity,” he says. “You learn quickly what matters and what doesn’t.”

Leadership under pressure became a defining feature of his career. He learned how to lead people with different backgrounds, skills, and limits. That experience would later shape his approach to both policing and teaching.

Law enforcement and responsibility at scale

Before entering education, Bigelow spent 16 years in law enforcement. He worked his way through the ranks and was recognised with the Beyond the Call of Duty award while serving with the NC A&T Police Department. In 2006, he was promoted to Chief of Police and Associate Vice Chancellor at North Carolina A&T.

“Authority only works when people trust you,” he says. “That trust comes from consistency.”

After 30 years of combined state service, Bigelow retired from North Carolina. But retirement did not mean stopping.

Finding purpose in education

Following setbacks in law enforcement, Bigelow turned toward what he describes as his “rightful calling.” Teaching. He spent 14 years as a JROTC instructor with Guilford County Schools, working closely with students who needed structure, accountability, and belief.

“Education gave me a second mission,” he says. “You don’t just teach content. You teach habits.”

Bigelow pursued his own education alongside his teaching career. He earned multiple degrees, including a BA from Shaw University, an AAS from Guilford Technical Community College, a master’s degree from American Public University, and a Doctorate in Education from the University of the Cumberlands.

“I needed to connect with people,” he says. “Education gave me the language to do that.”

Today, he continues to work as a substitute teacher, staying connected to the classroom.

Writing, reflection, and long-term goals

Bigelow is also the author of Bathsheba, David’s Goliath, a book shaped by reflection, faith, and personal experience. He is currently working on another book focused on early literacy, aimed at helping parents prepare children for third-grade reading benchmarks.

“Reading is the gateway,” he says. “If kids fall behind early, everything gets harder.”

His long-term goals remain clear. Write books. Reach readers. Continue serving in education leadership.

“I’m 60,” he says. “My short-term and long-term goals are the same.”

Faith, family, and balance

Bigelow speaks openly about faith as a stabilising force.

“When you hit rock bottom, there’s only one direction to look,” he says. “God’s grace is sufficient.”

He and his wife, Sherri Penn Bigelow, are avid runners, completing everything from 5Ks to marathons. They also enjoy ballroom dancing, a contrast to the rigidity of his professional life.

“Well-being matters,” he says. “Personal and professional are the same.”

A career measured by effort

When asked how he evaluates success, Bigelow keeps it simple.

“Did I give 100 percent for an honest day’s work?” he says.

Across military service, law enforcement leadership, and education, Curtis Bigelow has focused on building systems that outlast him. Discipline. Service. Learning.

Not big promises. Just steady work.