Dr. Lane (Horne) Melton didn’t graduate with the class of 1985, but the school remains close to his heart. He came to Ben Lippen as a 14-year-old boarding student from Camden, SC, when his grandparents, who raised him, sought a better educational option. His grandmother, an alumna of Columbia International University (then Columbia Bible College), was familiar with Ben Lippen’s values and vision. That decision would profoundly shape his life.

Dr. Melton’s time at Ben Lippen was a sort of crash course in learning responsibility. Boarding life meant learning discipline, managing domestics, and being around people from all over the world for the first time. That diversity, structure, and accountability were great preparation for his military career.

The Camden native thrived as a student-athlete, especially on the track team, where he competed in the 100m, 200m, and 4x400m relay. He fondly remembers Coach Lehman’s encouragement after an impressive practice run: “You will do great things.” That affirmation stuck with him.

The impact of Ben Lippen’s faculty remains vivid, too. “Mr. Blanton was more than a science teacher—he lived out his faith and invested in us,” Dr. Melton shared. And Coach Bob Hathaway, his Spanish teacher, was “such an incredible man of God. Students looked up to him.”

After high school, Melton’s path took several detours. He described himself as “his own worst enemy” during his early college years, struggling with self-destructive choices. At a turning point, he heeded his grandmother’s advice once more and enrolled at Columbia Bible College. After completing his degree in ‘92, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a radioman aboard the USS Samuel E. Morison—a move that launched a lifelong career in national defense and security.

Over the past 37 years, Dr. Melton has served in an impressive array of roles. He provided executive protection as an Agent with the South Carolina Senate Sergeant At Arms, worked with national defense contractors, and founded Surantec Security Group, which supported the Department of Homeland Security. He later served with the Department of Justice's anti-terrorism task force, Project SeaHawk, and held a senior risk management position with the U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Center.

Despite the high-stakes nature of his work—including international counterterrorism roles and jumping out of planes—the former Falcon sees his greatest calling as education. He has taught cybersecurity, information assurance, telecommunications, and espionage techniques at the collegiate level for years and is currently an adjunct professor at Western Governors University.

“My greatest honor has been guiding students,” he says. “This is what I was put on earth to do—to transfer knowledge, mentor, and lead by example. Even if I can’t always openly share my faith, I can be a light.”  

Now “retired”—at least in name—Dr. Melton lives with his wife Licie in the small town of Meggett, outside Charleston, SC. The two enjoy the busy, yet quiet rural life: raising chickens, tending to their land and ponds, training personal protection dogs, and growing vegetables and apple trees. He also consults and cherishes time with his children, Jack and Luke, and grandson, Jay.

“Although I may not be a rich man in money or possessions,” he’s rich in the things that matter—God’s blessings - family, land, and a life they love.

Dr. Melton urges today’s Ben Lippen students to explore fields in defense and technology. “Now is the time! Don’t be intimidated. Find a mentor and get involved—there’s so much opportunity.” But no matter what students choose, he encourages them to “Let your light shine.”