Georgia Department of Corrections
Brian Owens, Commissioner
Director of Public Affairs
Joan Heath
Contact: Office of Public Affairs (404) 656-9772
For Immediate Release
Commissioner Names New Facilities Director
Former Warden Appointed to Key Leadership Role
Atlanta – Department of Corrections Commissioner Brian Owens announced today the appointment of Timothy Ward to serve as new Facilities Director. Ward will oversee the Department’s state prisons, probation detention centers, transitional centers and boot camp. In his new role, Ward will be responsible for more than 13,000 employees who serve in the Corrections Division. Ward assumed his new position effective Monday, January 12, 2009.
“Timothy Ward brings years of experience to the Corrections Division,” said Commissioner Owens. “He did a great job serving as Warden and we look forward to the work he’ll do as Facilities Director.”
Ward began his career with the Department in 1992 at Scott State Prison as a Correctional Officer. He went on to serve as a Counselor at Hancock and Rivers State Prisons, before he was promoted to Chief Counselor at Scott State Prison. In 1999, Ward was promoted to Superintendent at the Western Probation Detention Center and later that year opened McEver Probation Detention Center as Superintendent. In 2001, Ward oversaw the conversion of Wrightsville Youth Detention Center to Johnson State Prison. He was appointed Warden at Rogers State Prison in 2005 and has served as Warden at Phillips State Prison since 2007.
A native of Dawson, Georgia, Ward holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Savannah State University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Columbus State University. Ward also holds executive and correctional officer certifications from the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council. Ward and his wife have three children.
The Department of Corrections is the fifth largest prison system in the United States and is responsible for supervising nearly 60,000 state prisoners and over 150,000 probationers. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 15,000 employees.
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