Commissioner Appoints New Wardens At West Tennessee State Penitentiary

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner George Little today announced the appointment of a veteran correctional manager to serve as warden at West Tennessee State Penitentiary in Henning, Tennessee.

Effective March 1, Northwest Correctional Complex Warden Tony Parker will transfer to Lauderdale County to serve as warden at West Tennessee State Penitentiary, the state’s largest prison with a population of nearly 2,500 male inmates.

Warden David Mills is returning to Morgan County to serve as warden of the Brushy Mountain Correctional Complex Site 2 in Wartburg and also manage the Morgan County expansion team. Mills served nearly three years as warden at West Tennessee State Penitentiary in Lauderdale County.

Deputy Warden Tommy Mills will serve as acting warden at Northwest Correctional Complex in Lake County.

“Warden Parker possesses the leadership skills necessary to manage this challenging facility’s day to day activities and I have the highest level of confidence that he will rise to the occasion,” said Little. “I know that the staff and community alike will offer their full support to Warden Parker as he assumes this new role.”

Parker started his TDOC career over two decades ago as a correctional officer in 1983. He worked his way up the ranks from corporal to captain from 1986-1995, and has also served as an associate warden, deputy warden, and eventually warden in June 2003. Parker earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Tennessee at Martin.