Andrew Pallito to remain Vermont's Commissioner of Corrections

Governor-elect Shumlin today announced that Commissioner Andrew Pallito will remain in his post as Commissioner of Corrections.
"There is no question addressing the challenge of corrections, which is the second largest area of growth in our state's budget, is ambitious," said Shumlin. "Vermonters can no longer afford to spend more on corrections than on higher education. In order to realize the cost efficiencies we anticipate through justice reinvestment, it is extremely important that we have someone with Andy's experience. Andy has both the vision and the experience necessary to ensure that we will reduce recidivism and achieve cost savings in our corrections system."
Andrew Pallito joined the Vermont Department of Corrections in January of 2001 after serving nearly nine years in other parts of the Vermont State Government. He began his public service career with the Department’s parent organization, the Agency of Human Services in August of 1992. Since coming to the Vermont Department of Corrections, he has served as both the Management Executive and the Deputy Commissioner and in 2008, was appointed to his current position as Commissioner.
As Management Executive, Andrew was responsible for the administrative, financial, information technology and training needs, including the Vermont Correctional Academy, of the Department. Upon his appointment as Deputy Commissioner in September of 2006, he was responsible for all operational functions including all Vermont Correctional Facilities and Probation and Parole Offices. As Commissioner, Andrew also serves on the Vermont Criminal Justice Training Council which oversees the training of individuals from all law enforcement agencies throughout Vermont and is the current Vice President of the Northeast Association of Correctional Administrators (NACA).
A 2005 graduate of the Vermont Leadership Institute at the Snelling Center for Government, Andrew holds a bachelors degree from Saint Peter’s College in New Jersey.
Source: Shumlin's office. 12.23.2010