GA Parole FY2015 Annual Report | Page 17

Rita Rocker was appointed Deputy Executive Director effective June 1, 2015.

Ms. Rocker began her career in 1989 as an accounting clerk with the Engineering Unit of the Georgia Department of Corrections. She then worked in the Food & Farm Unit, before being promoted to unit manager of the Property/Inventory & Audits Unit.

In 1997, Ms. Rocker transferred to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles as an operations auditor where her responsibilities included examining each of the Board’s primary operations to identify areas for improvement. Her success resulted in a promotion to unit manager. In 2010, she was promoted to Director of Government Relations, leading the Board through several legislative cycles that saw fundamental change in the Criminal Justice System in Georgia.

Ms. Rocker graduated from Georgia Southern University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. She later attended the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College at Columbus State University earning a master’s in Public Administration.

Executive Director Christopher Barnett was appointed as interim director in April of 2015 to guide the Board through a significant reorganization as parole supervision transitioned to the new Department of Community Supervision. Mr. Barnett's appointment was made permanent at the August 2015 monthly board meeting.

Director Barnett joined the Georgia Parole Board in 2003 as a parole officer in the Marietta Parole District. Promotions to senior parole officer, assistant chief parole officer, field operations officer, senior field operations officer and statewide program manager followed. In May 2013, he was promoted to regional director, supervising all operations and parole districts within the Northeast Region.

Under his leadership, the Board has adopted a new mission statement, strengthened its organizational structure and is completing a new strategic plan.

Mr. Barnett is a native of Hinesville, Georgia. He has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a Master of Public Administration from Georgia Southern University.

State Board of Pardons and Paroles Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Report

Executive Director of Parole

Christopher Barnett

Deputy Executive Director Rita Rocker

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