Andy Foster
Encyclopedia
Andy Foster is the current Executive Director of the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission (2008–present) and former professional mixed martial artist.
Foster is married and his wife's name is Sonja.
Series III Costa Rica Combat winner (2007), International Sport Combat Federation (ISCF) Middleweight Southeast Champion (April, 2004) and Light Heavyweight East Coast Amateur Champion(October, 2003). Foster has fought in combative sports since 1997.
Andy Foster is an experienced multi-disciplined fighter who has trained in Mixed Martial Arts
since 1997. He is trained in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
, Taekwondo
, Aikido
, Judo
, Hapkido
, Muay Thai
, Jeet Kune Do
, Sambo
, Kickboxing
, and Boxing
. Foster holds a MMA record of 17 – 2 (8-0 Amateur and 9-2 Professional - Pro- 2 KOs, 7 Submissions, 1 TKO, 1 Decision). He has a 23-3 Amateur Boxing
Record; 77-4-2 Sport Grappling
Record; and 1-2 Amateur Kickboxing
Record.
In addition to being a successful fighter, Foster has promoted five professional MMA cards; four professional boxing matches, matchmaker of nine professional MMA cards, trained over 30 successful MMA fighters, refereed over 500 MMA bouts, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Instructor (2003–2007), served as Head Referee for the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission (2007–2008), instructed several referee and judge training course on behalf of the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission, and judged over 100 MMA bouts.
as Executive Director of the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission (2008 – present) where he is responsible for carrying out the policies of the five-member Athletic and Entertainment Commission, which is charged with licensing and regulating the professional boxing
, kickboxing
, mixed martial arts
, and wrestling
contests throughout the U.S. state of Georgia. The Executive Director is also responsible for regulating the State of Georgia’s Ticket Broker Laws. In 2010, the new Secretary of State Brian Kemp
kept Foster as the Executive Director.
In this capacity as Executive Director, Foster monitors the medical review program; develops and presents medical review program changes and/or modifications to the Commission for approval; reports results of medical reviews in applicable national databases; directs drug testing program for participants and maintains confidential reports and related documents.
Foster coordinates fiscal, management, and staff functions with appropriate departmental staff; reviews, modifies, and approves program budget proposals; establishes fiscal controls to assure that expenditures do not exceed budgeted funds and are in conformance with approved fiscal programs; supervises the regulatory activities of the Commission staff and each event.
Foster directs the analysis of legislative proposals that affect the Commission’s program; recommends modification of proposed legislation to align with Commission policy, programs, or procedures; identifies the need for new legislation and, under Commission direction, acts to support or oppose such legislation; represents the Commission before the Georgia State Legislature.
Foster oversees the education and licensure of licensees of the Commission; consults with the Commission to identify issues that warrant attention and involvement; recommends changes in Commission policy; implements and maintains overall policy established by the Commission.
Makes final decisions regarding the application of Commission laws and regulations relative to licensing; monitors the licensing program; issues licenses in accordance with policies, rules and regulations established by the Commission; develops and presents licensing program changes and/or modifications to the Commission for approval; takes punitive action against licensees when situations warrant in accordance with policies established by the Commission; confers with attorneys and administrators on problems regarding policy decisions and legal opinions.
Foster follows up on Commission motions and resolutions to ensure completed staff work; assigns work priorities and establishes deadlines and check points for completion; evaluates job performance of any administrative staff.
Foster assigns officials to all professional boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts events; conducts post show audits and makes reports; evaluates referees and judges; acts as Commission’s liaison with the legislature, voluntary and professional associations, other governmental agencies, and the public.
. Foster is a member of the Unified Rules Committee of Matchmaking of Mixed Martial Arts (2008–Present); Association of Boxing Commissions Member of the Unified Rules Committee to review Unified Rules (2008–Present) and Association of Boxing Commissions Chairman of the Amateur Unified Rules Committee.
On October 2, 2009, Foster was featured by the Atlanta Business Chronicle in an article entitle “Fighter-turned-regulator oversees licensing agency” under the People in the News section.
Foster is married and his wife's name is Sonja.
Combative Sports Career
In his capacity as a mixed martial artist, Foster has achieved the following notable accomplishments: BodogFightBodogFight (TV series)
Bodog Fight was a reality television series and mixed martial arts competition that originated from Costa Rica and is created and produced by entertainment mogul Calvin Ayre and his Bodog Entertainment Group...
Series III Costa Rica Combat winner (2007), International Sport Combat Federation (ISCF) Middleweight Southeast Champion (April, 2004) and Light Heavyweight East Coast Amateur Champion(October, 2003). Foster has fought in combative sports since 1997.
Andy Foster is an experienced multi-disciplined fighter who has trained in Mixed Martial Arts
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
since 1997. He is trained in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
, Taekwondo
Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
, Aikido
Aikido
is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to...
, Judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
, Hapkido
Hapkido
Hapkido is a dynamic and also eclectic Korean martial art. It is a form of self-defense that employs joint locks, techniques of other martial arts, as well as kicks, punches, and other striking attacks...
, Muay Thai
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
, Jeet Kune Do
Jeet Kune Do
Jeet Kune Do is a hybrid martial arts system and life philosophy founded by martial artist Bruce Lee with direct, non classical and straightforward movements. Due to the way his style works they believe in minimal movement with maximum effect and extreme speed. The system works on the use of...
, Sambo
Sambo (martial art)
Sambo is a Russian martial art and combat sport. The word "SAMBO" is an acronym for SAMooborona Bez Oruzhiya, which literally translates as "self-defense without weapons". Sambo is relatively modern since its development began in the early 1920s by the Soviet Red Army to improve their hand to hand...
, Kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
, and Boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
. Foster holds a MMA record of 17 – 2 (8-0 Amateur and 9-2 Professional - Pro- 2 KOs, 7 Submissions, 1 TKO, 1 Decision). He has a 23-3 Amateur Boxing
Amateur boxing
Amateur boxing is practised at the collegiate level, at the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, and in many other venues sponsored by amateur boxing associations. Amateur boxing bouts are short in duration and fighters wear head protection, so this type of competition prizes point-scoring rather...
Record; 77-4-2 Sport Grappling
Grappling
Grappling refers to techniques, maneuvers, and counters applied to an opponent in order to gain a physical advantage, such as improving relative position, escaping, submitting, or injury to the opponent. Grappling is a general term that covers techniques used in many disciplines, styles and martial...
Record; and 1-2 Amateur Kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
Record.
In addition to being a successful fighter, Foster has promoted five professional MMA cards; four professional boxing matches, matchmaker of nine professional MMA cards, trained over 30 successful MMA fighters, refereed over 500 MMA bouts, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
Instructor (2003–2007), served as Head Referee for the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission (2007–2008), instructed several referee and judge training course on behalf of the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission, and judged over 100 MMA bouts.
Regulator
In 2008, Foster was appointed by then Georgia Secretary of State Karen HandelKaren Handel
Karen C. Handel is an American politician in the state of Georgia who served as Secretary of State of Georgia from 2007 until her resignation in January 2010 when she ran for Governor of Georgia in the 2010 election as a Republican. She announced in December 2009 that she would resign as...
as Executive Director of the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission (2008 – present) where he is responsible for carrying out the policies of the five-member Athletic and Entertainment Commission, which is charged with licensing and regulating the professional boxing
Professional Boxing
Professional boxing, or prizefighting, emerged in the early twentieth century as boxing gradually attained legitimacy and became a regulated, sanctioned sport. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse which is divided among the fighters and promoters as determined by contract...
, kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
, mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
, and wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
contests throughout the U.S. state of Georgia. The Executive Director is also responsible for regulating the State of Georgia’s Ticket Broker Laws. In 2010, the new Secretary of State Brian Kemp
Brian P. Kemp
Brian P. Kemp is the Republican Secretary of State of the U.S. State of Georgia. Kemp succeeded Karen Handel on January 8, 2010, when she stepped down to run in the Georgia gubernatorial election, 2010....
kept Foster as the Executive Director.
In this capacity as Executive Director, Foster monitors the medical review program; develops and presents medical review program changes and/or modifications to the Commission for approval; reports results of medical reviews in applicable national databases; directs drug testing program for participants and maintains confidential reports and related documents.
Foster coordinates fiscal, management, and staff functions with appropriate departmental staff; reviews, modifies, and approves program budget proposals; establishes fiscal controls to assure that expenditures do not exceed budgeted funds and are in conformance with approved fiscal programs; supervises the regulatory activities of the Commission staff and each event.
Foster directs the analysis of legislative proposals that affect the Commission’s program; recommends modification of proposed legislation to align with Commission policy, programs, or procedures; identifies the need for new legislation and, under Commission direction, acts to support or oppose such legislation; represents the Commission before the Georgia State Legislature.
Foster oversees the education and licensure of licensees of the Commission; consults with the Commission to identify issues that warrant attention and involvement; recommends changes in Commission policy; implements and maintains overall policy established by the Commission.
Makes final decisions regarding the application of Commission laws and regulations relative to licensing; monitors the licensing program; issues licenses in accordance with policies, rules and regulations established by the Commission; develops and presents licensing program changes and/or modifications to the Commission for approval; takes punitive action against licensees when situations warrant in accordance with policies established by the Commission; confers with attorneys and administrators on problems regarding policy decisions and legal opinions.
Foster follows up on Commission motions and resolutions to ensure completed staff work; assigns work priorities and establishes deadlines and check points for completion; evaluates job performance of any administrative staff.
Foster assigns officials to all professional boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts events; conducts post show audits and makes reports; evaluates referees and judges; acts as Commission’s liaison with the legislature, voluntary and professional associations, other governmental agencies, and the public.
Association memberships
Foster represents the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission as a member of the Association of Boxing CommissionsAssociation of Boxing Commissions
The Association of Boxing Commissions is a North American not for profit professional boxing and Mixed Martial Arts organization that provides a framework for undertaking boxing and MMA bouts and record keeping...
. Foster is a member of the Unified Rules Committee of Matchmaking of Mixed Martial Arts (2008–Present); Association of Boxing Commissions Member of the Unified Rules Committee to review Unified Rules (2008–Present) and Association of Boxing Commissions Chairman of the Amateur Unified Rules Committee.
Serving US Military as a Regulator
In September 2009, Foster traveled to Mosul, Iraq with Devil Dog Entertainment and Armed Formed Entertainment to serve as the Head Regulator for the first MMA event within enemy territory. The event “Fight Night For Heroes” took place on a military base in a warzone and featured 17 fights involving mainly of active duty military.On October 2, 2009, Foster was featured by the Atlanta Business Chronicle in an article entitle “Fighter-turned-regulator oversees licensing agency” under the People in the News section.