Governor Kay Ivey on Tuesday announced the retirement of Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) commissioner John Hamm.
Ivey named ADOC chief deputy commissioner Greg Lovelace as Hamm’s replacement. Ivey’s final term as governor will end in January.
“Running the Department of Corrections in any state is a heavy task, and Commissioner John Hamm has been exceptional for Alabama. No doubt Corrections is better today than when I took office in 2017. I certainly give John a ton of credit for our progress across the spectrum,” Ivey said. “Our work is not done, which is why I am especially proud to have Greg Lovelace take the role of Commissioner through the remainder of my time as governor. He is as good as they come and an expert in Corrections. Tackling challenges that come with any correctional system is multilayered, and I look forward to building on the progress we are making in the months ahead.”
State Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore) told 1819 News on Tuesday he wasn’t surprised about Hamm retiring.
“Commissioner Hamm has not discussed his private matters with me at all, but I’m not surprised by this action. I think (Lovelace) will come in well-versed on everything DOC. Jon Hamm is a great individual, very professional one. He’s taken this institution further than anyone else has in generations. I hate to see him leave,” Albritton said.
Commissioner Hamm came to the post in January 2022 with more than 35 years of law enforcement experience.
“It has been the honor of my life to serve in Governor Ivey’s Administration, and I thank her for giving me that opportunity and empowering me to lead the Department of Corrections forward,” Hamm said. “Governor Ivey’s unwavering support for the Department has been outstanding. When I started at Corrections in 2022, Governor Ivey gave me the charge of making the Department better and with her support, as well as the support of her staff and the hardworking men and women of ADOC, we have accomplished that.”
Lovelace will begin serving as commissioner on Friday.
“There has not been another governor in my lifetime who has done as much for the Alabama Department of Corrections than Governor Ivey. There have been longstanding challenges facing Corrections, and Governor Ivey decided she would tackle those head on, and we have made progress because of it,” Lovelace said. “I am honored to serve under Governor Ivey’s leadership and am grateful also to Commissioner Hamm for all that he has poured into ADOC. Governor Ivey instructed me with finishing strong to ensure Corrections seamlessly transitions to the next Administration, and I look forward to helping lead the ADOC team to doing just that.”
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