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For Immediate Release: May 31, 2007
Superintendent appointed at Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution
Oregon Department of Corrections Director Max Williams announced the appointment of Don Mills to be the superintendent of Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution (EOCI) in Pendleton, effective June 1.
Mills became acting superintendent of EOCI last December, succeeding Sharon Blacketter who was appointed superintendent of Deer Ridge Correctional Institution in Madras.
"Don Mills has the depth of experience, breadth of knowledge and people skills that are required to lead in today's complex public safety environment," said Director Williams. "He is an accomplished corrections professional and is respected in the community as well as the workplace, making him the perfect fit for EOCI."
Mills has a long history and broad experience in public safety and law enforcement. He joined the United States Marine Corps in 1965, serving two tours of duty in Vietnam. He received two purple hearts and was honorably discharged in 1969. He began his correctional and law enforcement career in 1969 as a jailer at the Marion County Jail in Salem. He was subsequently a patrol officer for the city of Turner and chief of police in the city of Aumsville.
In 1976, Mills became a correctional officer at Oregon State Penitentiary and promoted to the rank of corporal. In 1979, he became an investigator for Washington Public Power and Supply. He returned to the penitentiary in 1981, where he later promoted through the security ranks to become a correctional captain. In 2004, Mills moved to the Pendleton area as assistant superintendent of security at EOCI.
"I look forward to a continued partnership with the Pendleton community to prepare inmates to become successful citizens through hard work and effective programs," Mills said. "EOCI embraces the comprehensive principles of the Oregon Accountability Model, which is designed to reduce the risk that inmates will commit new crimes when they complete their sentences and return home."
Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution is a medium-security men's prison. Mills will be responsible for approximately 400 staff and 1,600 inmates, as well as a biennial operating budget of roughly $57 million.
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