2026-2027 Jail Manager Certification Commission

COMMISSION CHAIR Leon Valquier, MPA, CJM Captain of Staff Development

Douglas County Department of Corrections

Omaha, Nebraska

COMMISSION VICE-CHAIR Dan Fellin, MS, CJM Detention Division Chief

Pitkin County Sheriff's Office

Aspen, Colorado

Jacob Crawford CJM Major-Bureau of Professional Standards

LFUCG Division of Community Corrections

Lexington, Kentucky

COMMISSIONERS

Dr. Jermaine Gordon, D.PC, M.Div, CJM, CCHP Deputy Director

Kershaw County Detention Center

Camden, South Carolina

Tim Dial, CJM Deputy Chief of Corrections

Davidson County Sheriff's Office

Nashville, Tennessee

Join the Jail Manager Certification Commission!

The AJA Board of Directors and the Jail Manager Certification Commission (JMCC) are seeking to fill a vacancy on the Commission. Service on the JMM is a five-year term commencing on May 23, 2027, at the Sunday AJA Opening Luncheon & Business Meeting during AJA's 46th Conference & Jail Expo in Spokane, Washington.

The JMCC is the governing body that administers the Certified Jail Manager (CJM), Certified Jail Supervisors (CJS), and Certified Jail Officers (CJO) programs; sets policy; and ensures that the programs reflect the changing needs of the profession. A member of the JMCC is an ambassador for the advancement of corrections professionals.

Applications are reviewed by the JMCC. Up to four candidates are submitted to the AJA Board of Directors for final selection. Consideration shall be given to geography and agency size so that the JMCC reflects the diversity of the field.

To be considered, the applicant must have the following qualifications:

  • Earned the designation of Certified Jail Manager.
  • Currently employed full-time as a jail manager, as defined in the CJM Handbook for Candidates.
  • Be an AJA individual member in good standing.

Responsibilities include:

  • Reviews CJS and CJM candidate applications.
  • Actively participates in the promotional aspects of the CJM, CJS, and CJO programs, which may include attending state, regional, and national conferences as needed
  • Attends yearly scheduled JMCC meeting for Item/Test Review and AJA's Annual Conference & Jail Expo

Applicants should send a letter of expressed interest that includes:

  • Professional and educational background.
  • Current impressions of the AJA certification programs.
  • Vision for future growth of the programs.

For more information, contact The Certification Department at 301-857-2373 or certification@aja.org

MAIL TO:

Patty Vermillion, Director of Technology, Member Services, & Certification

American Jail Association

1135 Professional Boulevard, Hagerstown, MD 21740

Applications must be received at AJA no later than February 12, 2027.