RALEIGH – Interim Chief Deputy Secretary Reuben F. Young of the N.C. Department of Public Safety has named Robert Leon director of Correction Enterprises.

Leon has spent the past 25 years working for Correction Enterprises and has served as its deputy director since 2012. Prior to that, Leon served as Director of Professional Services, overseeing the day-to-day operations of five industries.

“Throughout his career, Robert’s focus and experience has been managing business operations, start-up of new businesses, capital planning and execution, and the successful transition reentry of inmates,” Judge Young said. “He has collaborated with executive leadership to develop strategic initiatives that benefited both Correction Enterprises and DPS. We are looking forward to the future of Correction Enterprises under Robert’s leadership.”

In his role as deputy director, Leon led six general managers and oversaw 30 manufacturing plants that utilized inmate labor in 17 different businesses.

Leon has worked in collaboration with Prisons in its remissioning efforts to improve prison operations and create more inmate job opportunities while increasing inmate skills and transitional opportunities. Most recently, Leon partnered with North Carolina State University to implement LEAN Manufacturing training, a nationally recognized manufacturing model dedicated to improving quality and efficiencies, throughout Correction Enterprises.

Prior to his work at Correction Enterprises, Leon spent 17 years in the private sector printing industry in a variety of management and production positions.

He is a graduate of the Correctional Leadership Development Program, Innovation in Government Leadership, NIC Correctional Industries Director Training, and a recipient of the NCIA Achievement Award for Supervisory