Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from Washington & Jefferson College.
(1984 Edward Moffat Weyer Prize in Philosophy)

Experience

Staff Assistant to Dep. Secretary of Corrections-August 2010-March 2012

Conducted Quarterly Inspection tours of correctional facilities supervised by the Deputy Secretary. Gathered pre-inspection information and prepared final reports for the Deputy Secretary’s signature. Reviewed and responded to correspondence from inmates, family members, the general public, other Departments and Agencies with DOC concerns. Participated in policy and procedure reviews and revisions. Assisted facilities with policy and procedure questions or interpretation.

Corrections Unit Manager 2000 – August 2010
State Correctional Institutes at Waynesburg/Fayette
Managed the operations of two housing units including a Sex Offender Unit at SCI-Waynesburg. Helped to plan and coordinate the placement and transfer of 500 inmates due to facility closure. Set up and facilitated the opening of the first housing unit at SCI-Fayette. Instructor for Defensive Tactics, Stress Management, Suicide Prevention, Interpersonal Communications, Supervisory Development and Pistol/Shotgun. Nine year member and former leader of the Western Regional Hostage Negotiation Team.
Western PA Negotiators Association: Executive Board

Corrections Counselor 1994 – 2000
State Correctional Institute at Greene
Managed a caseload of over 120 Capital Case inmates on Pennsylvania’s largest Death Row. Provided Stress Management, Interpersonal Communications, and Pistol/Shotgun training to staff on a regular basis. Member of Institutional Hostage Negotiations Team. Selected as one of the initial members of the Western Regional Hostage Negotiation Team.

Corrections Officer 1993-94
DOC Training Academy, Elizabethtown PA
Corrections Officer with duties that included teaching Basic Training modules: Intro to the Criminal Justice System and Ethnic Intimidation. Mentor and role model for new correctional employees. Instructor for defensive tactics and firearms as needed. Supervised and escorted inmates to and from SCI-Camp Hill.

Corrections Officer 1991-93
State Correctional Institute at Pittsburgh
Corrections Officer responsible for the care, custody and control of inmates in a maximum security institution. Conducted Stress Management classes on a regular basis.

Residential Services Aide 1989-91
Western Center State Hospital, Canonsburg PA
Provided direct care and supervision of developmentally disabled men with severe aggressive and/or self-abusive behaviors. Helped to develop and implement behavior plans.

US Army 1985-89
107th Military Intelligence Battalion, Ft. Ord CA
MOS: 98G. Member and leader of communications intercept team. Gathered and analyzed communications intercepts for intelligence value.
Final Rank: Corporal E4