(BOP) -
On October 25, 2014, Deputy Director Tom Kane retired from the Bureau of Prisons after more than 37 years of distinguished and dedicated service.
In addition, Deputy Director Kane was rehired as a part-time Senior Advisor to the Director to assist with the transition for his successor and to
coordinate several key projects for the Director's Office.
Dr. Kane was selected to serve as Deputy Director based upon his unique experience and qualifications, including his two extended stints as Acting Director along with his 20 years of leadership experience within the agency. While serving as Deputy Director, Dr. Kane provided guidance and support on a variety of critical issues facing the agency such as staff safety initiatives, labor-management relations, restrictive housing oversight, and enhanced reentry efforts. His service to the agency as Deputy Director was outstanding and remarkable.
Deputy Director Kane made many enduring contributions to this agency over the past 37 years, and he provided inspiration and support to many staff. When he began as a social science research analyst, shortly after completing his Ph.D. in psychology at the State University of New York at Albany, Dr. Kane worked on critical issues facing the agency regarding sexual assaults, inmate management, and violence. Based on his sharp intellect and his incredible ability to grasp complicated issues quickly and completely, he was asked to assist in developing the agency's first inmate classification system, culminating in the Inmate Designation/Custody Classification policy. Deputy Director Kane served as Chief of Staff to Director Quinlan before being named Senior Deputy Assistant Director in the Administration Division and then the first Assistant Director of the Information, Policy and Public Affairs Division (IPPA). In his role as Assistant Director, Dr. Kane established the Bureau's first Offices of Public Affairs and Legislative Affairs, and he oversaw all of the information technology operations. During his tenure the Bureau developed the wide area network, the agency's intranet ("Sallyport"), and this public site. The Office of Research and Evaluation thrived under Mr. Kane's leadership, completing many critical research projects that validate the effectiveness of critical inmate programs including Federal Prison Industries and Residential Substance Abuse Treatment. Additionally, Dr. Kane testified before Congress and the United States Sentencing Commission, and he represented the Bureau of Prisons in meetings with the Attorney General and other senior leaders in the Government on numerous occasions. In addition, Dr. Kane received the Attorney General's Medallion in 1992 and the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Service in 1997 and 2006.
Director Samuels congratulated Dr. Kane, noting, "Over the past 27 months, Deputy Director Tom Kane has provided invaluable assistance to me and to all of us as we work to advance the mission of the Bureau of Prisons. I appreciate everything Deputy Director Kane has done for me as Director and for our agency. His impact on the Bureau will continue to ensure our success many years into the future." Deputy Director Kane expressed his appreciation and thanks in an open message to staff saying: "I am grateful to all of my Bureau colleagues who have advised, mentored or trained me - to the present day. My thanks to all of you for making the Bureau of Prisons the outstanding organization it has been and will continue to be. I implore each of us to meet Charles' oft spoken challenge to staff: each and every day, find a way to make a positive difference - in the lives of our staff and the men and women incarcerated in our prisons. Take care of each other and take care of yourselves."