Commissioner's Page

On September 8, 2005, Governor Bredesen appointed George M. Little, veteran correction administrator for the state, as the new Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Correction. Little most recently served as Director of Shelby County Division of Corrections, where he provided oversight of the administrative functions of the division, including the preparation of the division's operating and capital budgets and general oversight of the day-to-day operations of the division. Little said, "I appreciate the opportunity Governor Bredesen has given me to use my background knowledge and years of experience to lead this valuable state department. Governor Bredesen and I share a common vision for the role correction plays in our state, and I look forward to working with him and with the dedicated employees of the department in my new role." Little was sworn in as the new commissioner on October 3, 2005.

2003 - 2005	Director, Shelby County Division of Corrections Memphis Managed all administrative functions of the department and provided oversight of the operations of the Corrections Division. Responsible for oversight of departmental operating and capital budgets Formulated and approved policies and procedures for day-to-day operation of division
1999 - 2002	Assistant to Executive Director, Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole Nashville Administered the Fiscal, Personnel, Training and Planning sections for the agency with more than 41,000 clients, 930 staff and a $54 million annual budget Established a strategic management program for the Board including performance measures and strategic goals Conducted research and program evaluation projects to increase cost-effectiveness of agency operations
1991 - 1999	Regional Director, Tennessee Department of Correction Memphis Administered accredited probation region with more than 6,400 clients, more than 3,000 investigative reports per year, 140 staff and a $3 million annual budget Established Day Reporting Program for high-risk, unemployed clients Designed and helped implement 30-bed male halfway house Implemented new automated correctional management information system (TOMIS)
1989 - 1991	Warden, DeBerry Correctional Institute, Tennessee Department of Correction Nashville Administered 285-bed special needs prison for mentally ill offenders, including supervision of 230 staff and $18 million annual budget
1987 - 1989	Assistant Commissioner, Adult Institutions, Tennessee Department of Correction Nashville Administered 16 institutions and central office operations with 12,000 inmates, including 4,300 staff and a $220 million budget
1980 - 1984	Assistant to Governor Lamar Alexander, Office of State Planning Nashville

B.A. in Economic and Business Administration
Morehouse College (Atlanta, GA), 1977

Graduate Study, Economics, Urban/Regional Development
University of Texas (Austin, TX), 1977-1979