March 4, 2021
W.Va. Corrections veteran named to DHS
leadership post
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A decorated former West Virginia
correctional officer, who worked his way up the ranks to acting commissioner,
is now leading the newest agency within the Department of Homeland Security.
Mike
Coleman has been appointed director of the Division of Administrative Services
by Homeland Security Secretary Jeff Sandy.
Administrative
Services was created when the state consolidated its prison, jail and juvenile
systems in 2018. A model for effective streamlining across state government, it
handles the array of functions common to state agencies including human
resources, payroll, recruiting, contracts and procurement, and vehicle and
property management within DHS.
“The
Division of Administrative Services provides mission support services to the
Homeland Security agencies that the people of our state depend upon, frequently
under some of the most trying circumstances that life can throw at them,”
Coleman said. “Our vision is to provide our customer agencies and the public
with a premier level of customer service so that these critical Homeland
Security services can be provided as seamlessly as possible.”
Coleman
began his career of public service in 1984 as a correctional officer, at the
former W.Va. Penitentiary in Moundsville. He was among 16 officers and staff
taken hostage by inmates during the New Year’s Day riot there in 1986. While
all were released, three inmates were murdered by rioters during the two-day
uprising. Coleman continued to serve at Moundsville following that ordeal,
earning a promotion to sergeant.
Coleman
went on to the state Corrections Academy, where he oversaw firearms, control
tactics, and special operations training. Promoted to lieutenant in 1992, he
was named executive assistant to the warden when the Mount Olive Correctional
Complex replaced the Moundsville prison in 1995. While there, he helped thwart
a 1999 escape attempt and was decorated for valor by Gov. Cecil Underwood.
Over
the next two decades, Coleman held several leadership positions for the entire
correctional system as well as at the Office of the Secretary. Gov. Jim Justice
appointed him acting commissioner in 2017. Coleman helped develop the 2018 legislation
that established the unified Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation, where
he most recently served as one of its two deputy commissioners.
“When
the director position at DAS came open, we reached out to Coleman,” said Sandy,
who made the appointment last month. “In his nearly 37-year career in state
government, he has developed an understanding and appreciation for how things
work and how to work with others to achieve common goals. He has excellent
relationships developed over many years with the leaders of other Homeland
Security agencies.”
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