Pineville, KY – Kentucky Department of Corrections Deputy Commissioner George Million today announced the promotion of a veteran Corrections employee to Deputy Warden at the Bell County Forestry Camp.

“Ron Howard is a very dedicated employee of the Bell County Forestry Camp with a great work ethic,” said Million. “He has been a critical part of that operation for many years and we hope he continues to be for many years to come. In his role as the prison’s financial officer, he has made valuable suggestions that will save the taxpayers money.”

Howard began his career in Corrections at the Bell County Forestry Camp in October 1988 as Chaplain. He was the first chaplain to be hired at the prison and helped establish the first chapel there. He also helped establish the Bell County Forestry Camp Mission, which was the first organized church in a correctional facility in Kentucky. He transferred to Classification Treatment Officer and worked in almost every phase of institutional operations as well as programs for more than three years. He was promoted to Procedures Development Specialist and in addition to various duties, was accreditation manager when the institution received the highest score attainable by a state-run institution at the time.

For the last five and a half years, Howard has worked as the prison’s fiscal officer.

Howard and his wife, Sandra Carnes Howard, live in Pineville. They have a daughter, Amy, who is an assistant athletic trainer at Cumberland College in Williamsburg, and a son, Andrew, who is attending Campbellsville University on a football scholarship. Howard is the son of Gabe and Fannie Howard of Kettle Island.

Howard has been a licensed and ordained Baptist Minister for 30 years and is currently pastor of First Baptist Church in Pineville. He also serves on the local 4-H advisory committee that reviews volunteers who work with youth.