Alabama corrections chief John Hamm retires, Greg Lovelace named

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Gov. Kay Ivey announced that Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm is retiring and will be replaced by Greg Lovelace.

Hamm will step down after serving since January 2022, and Lovelace will take over on May 1.

Ivey said Hamm did an exceptional job during his time leading the department.

"Running the Department of Corrections in any state is a heavy task, and Commissioner John Hamm has been exceptional for Alabama," Ivey said. "No doubt Corrections is better today than when I took office in 2017."

Hamm came to the job with more than 35 years of law enforcement experience. During his time as commissioner, the department started building two new men's prisons, hired and kept more corrections officers than ever before and enforced a zero-tolerance policy for misbehavior and violence among inmates and staff.

"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.

Lovelace currently serves as chief deputy commissioner and has more than 30 years of corrections experience. He has overseen maintenance and construction projects and managed all prisons within the system. His law enforcement career began in 1975 with the Chambers County Sheriff's Office.

"There has not been another governor in my lifetime who has done as much for the Alabama Department of Corrections than Governor Ivey," 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."

Lovelace will lead the department through the remainder of Ivey's term as governor. One of his main tasks will be overseeing the Governor Kay Ivey Correctional Complex in Elmore County, one of the two new men's prisons being built. Staff training is happening now, and inmates will eventually move to the new complex.

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