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Director

Gene M. Johnson

Gene M. Johnson began his career in the Virginia Department of Corrections in 1966 as Recreation Supervisor at Southampton Correctional Center, where he later became Assistant Superintendent.

He was named Warden of St. Brides Correctional Center in 1975, and in 1976 he became the first Warden of Mecklenburg Correctional Center. He became Warden at Southampton Correctional Center in 1979 and Warden of Powhatan Correctional Center in 1980.

Johnson was named Regional Administrator in the Northern Region in 1982 and later served as Regional Administrator in the Eastern, Central and Southeastern Regions.

He was named Chief of Operations in 1985 and became Deputy Director of Community Corrections in 1989.

In 1994, Johnson was named Deputy Director of Operations. His duties included directing a major programmatic and operations division of the department that includes a network of major adult prisons, field units, work centers, diversion and detention centers or other specialized secure facilities and associated treatment and work programs, probation and parole districts, local facilities and jails. Also, included in his scope of responsibility was oversight of the correctional enterprise operation.

Gene M. Johnson was appointed Director of the Virginia Department of Corrections by Governor Mark Warner on October 9, 2002. He was reappointed Director by Governor Tim Kaine on January 24, 2006.

Johnson is a graduate of Old Dominion University and is an active member of the American Correctional Association and the Association of State Correctional Administrators.