Charles Samuels—Bureau of Prisons: An Overview Charles E. Samuels, Jr., was appointed Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons on December 21, 2011. He is a career public administrator in the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the eighth Director since its establishment in 1930. He is responsible for the oversight and management of all Bureau of Prisons institutions and for the safety and security of thousands of inmates under the agency's jurisdiction. Director Samuels is a native of Birmingham, Alabama who received his B.A. in Criminal Justice in 1987 from the University of Alabama (Birmingham) and in 2012, he received their Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award. He graduated from the Harvard University Executive Education Program for senior managers in government in August 2007. Mr. Samuels began his career with the Bureau as a Correctional Officer in March 1988. Subsequently, he was selected for positions of increasing responsibility. Mr. Samuels has served as Associate Warden at FCIs Otisville (NY) and Beckley (WV), Ombudsman in Central Office, and Warden at FCIs Manchester (KY) and Fort Dix (NJ), prior to being named Senior Deputy Assistant Director of the Correctional Programs Division (CPD). He was selected Assistant Director of CPD in January 2011, where he oversaw all inmate management and program functions, including intelligence and counterterrorism initiatives, security and emergency planning, inmate transportation, case management, mental health and religious services and community corrections. Director Samuels was also responsible for inmate skills development and reentry initiatives.
