FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 14, 2018) – Randy White has been appointed as deputy commissioner of Adult Institutions for the Department of Corrections (DOC), Kentucky Justice Secretary John Tilley announced today.
In his new role, White will be in charge of all aspects of operation and administration for Kentucky’s 12 state prisons. He will also oversee the department’s substance abuse treatment, health services, correctional industries, private prison, education, and programs divisions.
White has served for the past six years as warden of the Kentucky State Penitentiary (KSP), the state’s oldest and only maximum-security prison. While at KSP, he assisted in creating and implementing the Restrictive Housing Transition Program, designed to address behavioral management issues for inmates in restrictive housing. In addition, he has increased evidence-based, behavior modification programming by 60 percent at the prison. His leadership has proven that evidence-based programming not only assists the inmate population and re-entry efforts, but also improves institutional security.
“Randy White exemplifies the kind of smart, steady and savvy leadership we need,” said Secretary Tilley. “His commitment to best practices in corrections is clear; improving outcomes most recently as warden at the Kentucky State Penitentiary in Eddyville. We look forward to Randy becoming a member of DOC’s leadership team.”
A 22-year veteran of corrections, White began his career as a correctional officer at Northpoint Training Center in 1996. After a series of promotions that took him to Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex, Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women and Luther Luckett Correctional Complex, he assumed his first wardenship at Green River Correctional Complex in 2009.
In addition to his DOC service, White served our nation as a member of the Kentucky Army National Guard. He had two stateside activations and was twice mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In October 2004, White was mobilized and was assigned to conduct combat patrols and convoy escorts in and around Baghdad, Iraq. He was additionally assigned to conduct mentoring and joint combat operations with two separate companies of the Iraqi Highway Patrol during the latter half of 2005. It was on one of those missions with the Iraqi Highway Patrol that White earned his Purple Heart. The vehicle they were riding in was destroyed by a roadside bomb (IED) and everyone was knocked unconscious as the vehicle careened off the road and into a canal. White also received the Army Commendation Medal, the Combat Action Badge, and the Iraqi Campaign Medal for his service during his deployment.
“I am honored to accept this position and looking forward to working with the Justice Cabinet, Commissioner Erwin and our current institutional leadership,” said White. “We have a very strong team in place and we will continue to work hard to carry out the mission of the department.”
White is a native of Wolfe County and a 1994 graduate of Eastern Kentucky University where he received his bachelor’s degree in corrections/juvenile services and police administration. He was a recipient of the department’s highest honor, a Commissioner’s Award, in 2006. He is a 2007 graduate of the Commissioner’s Executive Leadership Program.
Add Comment