Senator, North Carolina State Senate, 2010-2019

Deputy President Pro Tempore, North Carolina State Senate, 2013-2019

Candidate, North Carolina State Senate, District 7, 2018

Representative, North Carolina State House of Representatives, District 11, 1995-1996, 2003-2008

Mayor, Town of Mount Olive, 1991-1994, 1999-2002

Candidate, North Carolina State House of Representatives, 1996

Member, Board of Commissioners, Town of Mount Olive, 1987-1989

Mayor Pro Tem, Town of Mount Olive, 1988-1989

Former Member, Agriculture Committee, North Carolina State House of Representatives

Former Member, Appropriations Committee, North Carolina State House of Representatives

Former Co-Chair, Appropriations on Health and Human Services Committee, North Carolina State Senate

Former Member, Appropriations/Base Budget Committee, North Carolina State Senate

Former Member, Education/Higher Education Committee, North Carolina State Senate

Former Member, Finance Committee, North Carolina State Senate

Former Co-Chair, Health Care Committee, North Carolina State Senate

Former Vice Chair, Homeland Security, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, North Carolina State House of Representatives

Former Member, Judiciary I Committee, North Carolina State Senate

Former Member, Local Government Committee, North Carolina State House of Representatives

Former Member, Pensions & Retirement and Aging Committee, North Carolina State Senate

Former Member, Program Evaluation Committee, North Carolina State Senate

Former Member, Rules and Operations of the Senate, North Carolina State Senate

President, Garner Brothers Incorporated, 1982-1990

Officer, United States Air Force, 1962-1982

Member, American Legion

President, Mount Olive Rotary Club

Member, Rotary Club

Member, Veterans of Foreign Wars

Member, Wayne County Economic Development Commission

Director, North Carolina Global Transpark Authority, 1997-2001