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Media Relations Office:
Majors are Becoming Leaders in the ADC Community
The Arizona Department of Corrections is making a major investment in its top uniformed staff members. On February 16-17, ADC brought together Majors from each of its 10 prison complexes and Central Office to teach them skills and techniques that will make them better leaders. The meeting was the first Quarterly Majors Summits scheduled for 2006. The training sessions mark the first year in the agency’s 38-year history that the department’s Majors are training together. “This training has been extremely productive, and it gave us a chance to put a face to a name and learn from one another,” ASPC-Yuma Major Ruben Quintero said. “We will take what we learned from this summit, and filter the information to our unit captains.” During the two-day seminar, Majors actively listened to corrections administrators instruct on a variety of topics including leadership, professionalism and emergency preparedness. The Majors also participated in a series of computer classes, learning skills like Powerpoint and Excel. “Our changing times and work force requires our leadership to be technologically sound and able to keep pace with the continually evolving industry standards,” Security Operations Administrator Ernest Trujillo said. “ For ADC to attain flagship status, our current and future leadership needs to help take us there.” In 2005, ADC expanded the role of the Major to go beyond chief of security for complex operations. “I want Majors to be the security experts in our prisons. I want wardens and deputy wardens to rely on their majors as to what’s up,” Offender Operations Division Director Sam Sublett said. “I want Majors to take responsibility for the consistent application of post orders all across the units of each complex.” In the past, Majors concentrated on overseeing duties such as external security, transportation and mail and property. Now, Majors are called on to be more involved with the operations of each individual unit. They are expected to interact more with Captains and serve as their mentors; monitor security practices within the units and identify best practices to share with other units. “As the top uniformed staff member, ADC expects a lot from its Majors. Our agency recognizes their importance, and we are investing in their growth and maximizing their potential as leaders,” Trujillo said. “ As a former Major, I’m a bit jealous of the opportunities growth and development that our Majors have today.”
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