Department of Corrections
Julie W. Thomas Promoted to Deputy Warden at Blackburn Correctional Complex

     Frankfort, Ky. (October 16, 2009) – Kentucky Department of Corrections Deputy Commissioner Al Parke today announced the promotion of Julie W. Thomas to Deputy Warden of Blackburn Correctional Complex (BCC) in Lexington.
     Her promotion is effective November 1 and she begins her new job the following day.
     “Julie Thomas is truly a dedicated employee that has served the Department in a number of important roles in our institutions and Central Office where she has always demonstrated a high degree of ability and integrity,” said Parke. “Her operational and people skills give her the skill set to be of outstanding service to Blackburn Correctional Complex.”
     Thomas is a 25-year veteran of state employment. She first worked with hearing impaired children at the Kentucky School for the Deaf beginning in 1984. Three years later she joined the Department of Corrections as a correctional officer at Northpoint Training Center. While there she worked for a short time as an administrative assistant to the warden and grievance coordinator before being promoted to sergeant in 1989. 
     In 1994, Thomas was special-detailed to Central Office and for approximately four to five months assisted the parole board in completing parole revocation warrants. She was promoted to lieutenant at Northpoint in 1999 and that same year was named “Supervisor of the Year,” at the prison.
     While Thomas was conducting a disciplinary hearing in April 2002, she was taken hostage by an inmate at Northpoint. The inmate held a can lid to her throat but Thomas was able to fight off the attack. Later that year she received a Commissioner’s Award. During her tenure at NTC, Thomas served as a hostage negotiator and was also a member of the prison’s accreditation team for several years.
     In January 2003, Thomas was assigned a state monitor’s position under the Contract Management Division. She monitored the contract at the Marion Adjustment Center and also inspected halfway houses in Lexington, Louisville, Paducah, and Owensboro.
     In March 2006 Thomas was named acting branch manager of Offender Information at Central Office. She was promoted to the position on a permanent basis in December 2006.
     Thomas is also a 2007 graduate of the Commissioner’s Executive Leadership Program.
A native of Boyle County, Thomas lives in Danville with her husband Randy.