Department of Correction
Derrick D. Schofield, Commissioner

Bruce Westbrooks, Warden

Bruce Westbrooks, a 25-year veteran of the Tennessee Department of Correction, was appointed Warden at the Bledsoe County Correctional Complex (formerly Southeastern Tennessee Regional Correctional Facility) on September 1, 2011.

Mr. Westbrooks began his career as a correctional officer at the Turney Center Industrial Complex in 1986, where he held various positions within the security ranks and served as the institutional internal affairs liason. In 1996, with the advent of the statewide Internal Affairs Division, he was appointed as an internal affairs supervisor where he served for three years before being appointed as Associate Warden of Operations at the opening of the West Tennessee State Penitentiary in 1999. He continued at WTSP as deputy warden and warden until being transferred in 2003 to the Wayne County Boot Camp in Clifton. He most recently served as Deputy Warden at the Turney Center Industrial Complex when it merged with the Wayne County Boot Camp in 2008.

Mr. Westbrooks attended The University of Tennessee Martin and Middle Tennessee State University where he studied secondary education. He also participated in the LEAD Tennessee Leadership Program.

Eric Qualls, Warden

Eric Qualls was appointed Warden at the Charles Bass Correctional Complex on September 15, 2012. He is a 30-year veteran of the Tennessee Department of Correction. Mr. Qualls began his career as a Correctional Officer at the Fort Pillow Prison and Farm in 1982, where he held various positions within the security ranks.

In 1985, he transferred to the Middle Tennessee Reception Center where he served as corporal, transportation officer and sergeant before being appointed as the Statewide Security Threat Group Coordinator in 1999. In 2005, he was assigned to the Compliance and Accreditation section in Central Office. He most recently served as Acting Director of Compliance and Accreditation.

Mr. Qualls attended Volunteer State Community College and Tennessee State University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. He also participated in the Leadership TDOC Program and the LEAD Tennessee Leadership Program.

Michael Donahue, Warden

Michael Donahue was named Warden at CCA's Hardeman County Correctional Center in November 2012. He had served as Warden at the West Tennessee Detention Facility since December of 2010. Donahue joined CCA in 2009 as an Assistant Warden at the Florence Correctional Center and then transferred to Red Rock Correctional Facility.

Before joining CCA, Donahue worked for the Connecticut Department of Correction where he started as a correctional officer and held several management positions, including warden and lead warden. He retired from the State of Connecticut after 23 years of service.

He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from the University of New Haven and attended the Mercer University School of Law.

Jewel Steele, Warden

Warden Jewel Steele began her career with the Tennessee Department of Correction in December 1981 as a Psychiatric Social Worker I at the DeBerry Correctional Institute. She has held the positions of Psychiatric Social Worker II, Mental Health/Mental Retardation Institutional Program Director and Director of Mental Health.

On June 1, 2005, she was appointed Warden of the Tennessee Prison for Women. She served in this capacity for six (6) years.

On September 1, 2011, she was transferred back to the DeBerry Special Needs Facility to serve as Warden.

Warden Steele has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology from the Tennessee State University and a Master of Science Degree (MSSW) in Social Work from the Univeristy of Tennessee School of Social Work.

Sharon C. Taylor, Ph.D., Warden

Sharon Taylor, Ph.D., began her career with the Tennessee Department of Correction as a Correctional Principal at Northeast Correctional Complex. There she supervised the academic, vocational and library programs, coordinated the pre-release program and worked with inmates on the Impact of Victims of Crime class.

Dr. Taylor earned her B.A. in English from King College, her M.A. in Education from Appalachian State University, and her Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction with Education Administration and Supervision from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

She was appointed to the warden's position at MLCC in April, 2010.

Warden Taylor and her late husband have one daughter.

John "Tony" Howerton, Warden

John "Tony" Howerton began his career with the Tennessee Department of Correction as Warden at the Morgan County Correctional Complex on January 9, 2012.

Warden Howerton is a 29-year correctional veteran, who rose through the ranks to various leadership positions. For the last 15 years, he has served as a Warden with the Georgia Department of Correction and, most recently, as Warden at Phillips State Prison, an 1,150-bed facility for male offenders in Buford, Georgia.

Prior to joining corrections, Warden Howerton proudly served in the United States Army with the 82nd Airborne Division. He graduated summa cum Laude with a 3.98 GPA from Colorado Technical University, obtaining a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice. He holds a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Columbus State University's Law Enforcement Command College.

Warden Howerton also served as an adjunct professor at Columbus State University and North Georgia Technical College. He is past president of the Georgia Prison Wardens Association and the Georgia Correctional Association.

David A. Sexton, Warden

David A. Sexton, a 33 year veteran of the Tennessee Department of Correction, was appointed Warden at the Northeast Correctional Complex May 1, 2010.

Warden Sexton began his career in corrections in 1979 as a correctional officer at Brushy Mountain State Prison in Petros, Tennessee. He worked his way through the ranks as a corporal, sergeant, captain, unit manager, operations manager, associate warden and deputy warden. He has served as associate warden and deputy warden at other facilities. Throughout his career, Warden Sexton has worked at Brushy Mountain State Prison, Morgan County Correctional Complex, Carter County Work Camp and Northeast Correctional Complex.

Warden Sexton is married with three daughters and has attended Roane State College.

Henry Steward, Warden

Henry Steward was appointed Warden of the West Tennessee State Penitentiary on October 1, 2008.

Steward began his career with the State of Tennessee in 1986 as a correctional officer at Fort Pillow Prison and Farm. Warden Steward advanced through the ranks from corporal to captain and served as a unit manager, associate warden of operations and deputy warden.

Warden Henry Steward holds an associate's degree in Criminal Justice from Dyersburg State Community College. Steward is married and has four children.

Roland Colson, Warden

On April 1, 2011 Roland Colson was named Warden of Riverbend Maximum Security Institution. He most recently served as Director of Information Systems for the Tennessee Department of Correction.

Mr. Colson previously served as Warden of the Lois DeBerry Special Needs Facility from April 2007 until June 2010. Prior to that appointment, Warden Colson was TDOC Assistant Commissioner of Operations.

From 2000-2004, Colson served the Tennessee Department of Safety as the Chief Technology Officer as well as the Executive Assistant to the Commissioner. In those roles, he was instrumental in the development, submission and administration of the departmental budget and technological strategies. He worked extensively in the writing and implementation of departmental policies and served as a legislative liaison for the department.

Mr. Colson holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from Florida State University. In 1991, he completed his Masters in Business Administration at Middle Tennessee State University. He has more than 30 years experience as an information technology manager, financial analyst, financial manager, information systems consultant and businessman.

Arvil "Butch" Chapman, Warden

Arvil "Butch" Chapman was named Warden of the South Central Correctional Center in June 2011.

Chapman is a Certified Correctional Executive with 28 years of corrections experience. He is returning to a facility where his career in corrections with CCA began.

Warden Chapman joined CCA at South Central in 1993 as a correctional officer and was promoted twice, first to sergeant and second to unit manager, before leaving the facility in 2002 to serve as an Assistant Warden at a CCA operated facility in Memphis.

After just a few years of serving as an Assistant Warden at CCA facilities in Memphis and St. Mary, KY, Chapman accepted the opportunity to be a warden. He has served in that capacity in three CCA facilities over the past six years.

Chapman and his wife Christine have three children, Tiara, Timmy and Holly. He is an active member of Rotary International.

Debra K. Johnson, Warden

Debra K. Johnson was appointed Warden of the Tennessee Prison for Women on September 1, 2011. Warden Johnson has served in various leadership roles with the Department of Correcton for over twenty years.

Prior to her appointment as warden, she served as Deputy Warden of the Lois M. DeBerry Special Needs Facility. Warden Johnson has a vast knowledge of the prison system having risen through the ranks from correctional officer to corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, unit manager, deputy warden and warden.

Warden Johnson holds a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Tennessee State University and prides herself on hard work, dedication and open communication.

Wayne Carpenter, Warden

Wayne Carpenter was appointed Warden at the Turney Center Industrial Complex on March 1, 2013. Warden Carpenter began his correctional career in 1978. He has served as an Associate Warden at Fort Pillow Prison and Farm, Wayne County Work Camp, Morgan County Correctional Complex and West Tennessee State Penitentiary.

In 1999, he was named the Fiscal Director at the West Tennessee State Penitentiary and later became Deputy Warden. Carpenter also previously served as Acting Warden at Northwest Correctional Complex and Turney Center Industrial Complex.  

Warden Carpenter holds an Associate's Degree from the Dyersburg State Community College and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Managmeent from the University of Memphis.

Jerry Lester, Warden

Jerry Lester, a 24-year veteran of the Tennessee Department of Correction, was appointed Warden at the Turney Center Industrial Complex April 1, 2011 by Commissioner Derrick Schofield.

Mr. Lester began his career as a correctional officer at the Brushy Mountain State Prison in 1987, where he held various positions within the security ranks at both the Brushy Mountain facility and the Morgan County Correctional Complex. Mr. Lester was appointed a special agent with the department's Internal Affairs Division in October 2002. He was later appointed director of the investigative division in November 2006. Throughout his career, Mr. Lester has also worked at the department's Central Office, the Turney Center Complex, and the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution.

Mr. Lester is a graduate of the Unversity of Tennessee Government Executive Institute, where he was elected the 2009 Class President, the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation BCIS.

Cherry Lindamood, Warden

Cherry Lindamood was appointed warden at Corrections Corporation of America's Whiteville Correctional Facility in Whiteville, Tennessee in June 2011. Most recently, Lindamood served as warden at CCA's South Central Correctional Facility in Clifton, Tennessee from June 2005 until June 2011. She previously served as associate warden at the Whiteville facility from May 2004 until June 2005.

Cherry Lindamood served as the warden for the state's largest women's prison (Tennessee Prison for Women) from summer of 2001 until 2004.  Her career with the state Department of Correction spanned more than eighteen years.

Warden Lindamood graduated from Murray State University in 1979 with a Bachelor's degree in Science.  She initially went to work for the Department of Human Services, but by 1989, she had made her move to corrections as a counselor at the Lake County Correctional Facility.

During her time in West Tennessee, Lindamood worked her way up to unit manager, associate warden and eventually deputy warden for Northwest Correctional Complex.  Lindamood is married with two children.