Gov. Tom Wolf announced his intention to name George Little to serve as Acting Secretary of the Department of Corrections. Little will replace outgoing Corrections Secretary John Wetzel, who is leaving to enter the private sector.
“George Little has extensive leadership experience in the public sector, with a focus on public safety, including five years in leadership positions at the Department of Corrections,” said Wolf. “The Department of Corrections continues to evolve and modernize rehabilitation and education efforts to reduce recidivism while implementing appropriate strategies to enhance public safety. George Little understands this deeply and will serve this position well.”
Little currently serves as the Executive Deputy Secretary of Community Corrections and Reentry at the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections since September 2017, where he is responsible for leading community corrections, parole and probation field supervision services, and parole reentry operations. Prior to that, he was DOC’s Director of Community Corrections since 2016.
A Pennsylvania native, Little previously served the state of Tennessee in various capacities for 26 years. There, he served as Regional Probation Director, Warden and Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Correction, as well as Director of the Shelby County Tennessee Division of Corrections. Between periods of corrections service, Little served as Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Memphis. While serving there, he was responsible for oversight of the Memphis Police and Fire Department, the Second Chance program and Workforce Development.
Little also serves on the board of the National Police Foundation and is an associate member of the Association of State Correction Administrator. Little has a bachelor of arts degree in economic and business administration from Morehouse College and completed a graduate study in economics, urban/regional development from the University of Texas.
Wetzel has served as Secretary since 2011 – spanning two administrations – and he has three decades of experience in corrections roles.
“Under John Wetzel’s leadership, the Department of Corrections experienced the first reduction in the inmate population in decades – a testament to his commitment to rehabilitation and positive reentry initiatives,” said Wolf. “I am grateful for his dedication to public safety and for his service to our commonwealth, and I wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”
Wetzel will depart on Oct. 1 and Little will assume the role as Acting Secretary on Oct. 2.
