Each separate jurisdiction under a Supreme Council is called an Orient. In the United States, each State and territory is an Orient.
Orients in the Southern Jurisdiction are headed either by a Deputy of the Supreme Council appointed by the Sovereign Grand Commander, or by a Sovereign Grand Inspector General or SGIG elected by the Supreme Council. Why the difference? Because there are only 33 active members of the Supreme Council and there are more than 33 states and territories in the Southern Jurisdiction.
Scottish Rite Masons in Virginia are in Orient of Virginia which is headed by Ill. and MW James Dean Cole who also is the Grand Treasurer General of the Supreme Council.
Illustrious James Dean Cole, 33°, was appointed Deputy of the Supreme Council in Virginia, effective January 1, 2003, and elected by the Supreme Council on October 7, 2003 to serve as an active member of the Council and as the Sovereign Grand Inspector General in Virginia.
He is a member of the Scottish Rite Valley in Roanoke and served as the Grand Master of Masons in Virginia in 2001. He was elected a Knight Commander of the Court of Honour in 1997, and Coroneted a 33° Inspector General Honorary at the Bicentennial in Charleston, SC in October 2001.
A graduate of VPI, he holds both a Bachelor's and Master's degree and served the Virginia Tech University for 17 years as a CPA in various administrative and financial positions. In 2002, he accepted the position of Director of Development at the Masonic Home of Virginia. He currently serves as the CEO of the Masonic Home of Virginia.
Illustrious Brother Cole and his wife Mary Ann live in Shawsville, Virginia. They have a daughter and a son.
See Also: Officers & Organization - Supreme Council, Valleys, Alexandria Valley
