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ONEIDA, TENNESSEE | June 17, 2026 — Dwight Murphy retired this week after more than 20 years as President of Tennessee College of Applied Technology Oneida/Huntsville, and nearly five decades of public service.
Murphy was appointed President of TCAT Oneida/Huntsville in late 2005, taking over his duties on Jan. 1, 2006. He was Scott County Mayor at the time, and resigned that position to make the transition to TCAT.
During his time at the college, TCAT underwent tremendous growth — growing from 85 students to 219 full-time, post-secondary students, in addition to hundreds of dual-enrolled students. The number of programs offered by TCAT Oneida/Huntsville grew from six (collision repair, automotive, welding, computer information technology, practical nursing, and administrative office technology) to 25, and he was able to secure millions of dollars in grants to fund new programs, new student services offerings, and new facilities.
Murphy's tenure saw TCAT Oneida/Huntsville grow from the main campus in Huntsville and the satellite campus in Oneida to a newly-renovated Oneida campus that represents an $18 million investment, a brand-new higher education center in Jamestown that will be a shared space with Roane State Community College and represents an investment of more than $25 million, and three additional instructional service centers — the Morgan County Career & Technical Center in Wartburg, Clarkrange High School, and York Institute in Jamestown. TCAT also offers programs to inmates at the Tennessee Department of Corrections' Morgan County Correctional Complex in Wartburg, and to inmates at the Scott County Jail in Huntsville.
Also, Murphy's leadership has seen dual-enrollment offerings expanded to high school students at a number of area high schools, including Oneida High School, Scott High School, York Institute, Clarkrange High School, Wartburg Central High School, Sunbright High School, Jellico High School, Campbell County High School, Anderson County High School, and Union County High School.
Murphy was instrumental in the statewide rebranding from Tennessee Technology Centers to Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology in 2013, better reflecting the post-secondary, career-focused technical training offered by the 24 TCATs across the state.
Murphy, a lifelong resident of Winfield, began his professional career as a teacher in the Scott County School System, and also owned and operated his family's retail store, Winfield Grocery. He entered public service in 1978, when he was elected to Scott County Commission. After one term representing Scott County's 5th District, he was elected Scott County Executive in 1982, becoming the youngest county executive in the state. He served in that capacity for eight years before returning to the private sector in 1990. In 1998, he was again elected Scott County Executive, and was re-elected in 2002 as the position was renamed Scott County Mayor, effectively becoming the longest-tenured county judge or executive in Scott County's history.
Murphy will remain active in the public sector; he is a member of both the Winfield Industrial Development Board and the Industrial Development Board of Scott County. He is also active in his church, Winfield Baptist.
Murphy is being succeeded by Tim Smith, who has served as Vice President of TCAT Oneida/Huntsville since September 2024, and as Vice President of TCAT Jacksboro for seven years before that. Smith began his career with the Tennessee Board of Regents at TCAT Oneida/Huntsville in 2007.
Smith's first day as President of TCAT Oneida/Huntsville was June 16, 2026.