Officers
WRJA Officers for 2021
Officers are elected by a majority vote of WRJA members. Due to complete 2020 cancellations, the current WRJA officers have agreed to extend their term for one more year. We are committed to continuous training, sharing knowledge, and networking to assist each and everyone one of us in our day-to-day roles in corrections. We trust that 2021 will be a better year!
Listed below are our current officers:
President
Lieutenant Debbie Clark – Western Virginia Regional Jail
Lt. Debbie Clark has 25 years of experience in corrections. She began her career at Campbell County Sheriff’s Office in 1992 as a dispatcher and deputy within the jail. In 1994 she was hired by the Lynchburg Sheriff’s Office to be a liaison between the Sheriff’s Office and Lynchburg Police Department in an annexation of the Booking Division. She was fundamental in preparing and training staff as part of this transition. In 1998 the Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority took over jail operations from the Sheriff’s Office along with much of the staff. Over the next 10 years with BRRJA, Debbie served in the roles of Records Officer, LIDS Tech, and Systems Analyst. In 2008 the Western Virginia Regional Jail began hiring for their new facility in Salem, Va. She was hired as the Records Sergeant to assist with preparing for the opening of the jail. She was then promoted in 2014 to Assistant Platoon Commander (Lt.), and in 2015 she was transferred to manage I.T. Services. As the I.T. Manager, Lt. Clark is responsible for planning, coordinating, and directing all information and communication system activities for the Western Virginia Regional Jail. In 2017 she received a B.S. in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology from Liberty University.
Vice President
Vida Parker – Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority
Vida Parker has worked for the Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority for 20 years. She started at the Bedford facility in Inmate Records and Inmate Accounts, as well as the Moneta facility. She worked in the IT Department from 2009 to 2011. In 2011, she was part of the start-up team for the new Amherst facility, and became the Standards Compliance Specialist after it opened in December of that same year. She transferred to the Lynchburg facility in June 2014, where she continues to be the Standards Compliance Specialist. She also oversees the records retention for all 5 of the BRRJA sites and the Central Office based on the guidelines of the Library of Virginia.
Vida also maintains the website for the BRRJA and for the WRJA. She has an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Administrative Support Technology from the Central Virginia Community College. She is also the Secretary for the Virginia Association of Regional Jails.
Secretary
Captain Chris Hayes – Western Virginia Regional Jail
Captain Christopher Hayes has been a member of the Western Virginia Regional Jail for the past 11 years. He began his career with the Virginia Department of Corrections in 2007. Since joining the Western Virginia Regional Jail as a correctional officer, Captain Hayes has worked his way through the ranks, where he now serves as the Assistant Security Division Commander supervising Inmate Records, Transportation, Intake, and four security platoons. He is a graduate of the Virginia Regional Jail Leadership Initiative and Class #25 of the National Jail Leadership Command Academy in 2017. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Master’s Degree in Business Management and Leadership from Liberty University. Captain Hayes served 6 years in the United States Army, serving in the U.S. and abroad during the War on Terrorism and the Iraq War. He spent a majority of his time in the Army as a paratrooper with America’s Guard of Honor – 82nd Airborne Division, and the 18th Airborne Corps.
Treasurer
2nd. Lieutenant Robert Hesson – Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office
2nd Lieutenant Rob Hesson has been with the Loudoun County Virginia Sheriff’s Office since June of 2000. He began his career in public safety as a Firefighter/Paramedic with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department before joining the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and attending the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy in 2001 obtaining his law enforcement certification. He received his degree from the School of Medicine at George Washington University.
With over twenty years of public safety experience in law enforcement, corrections, fire-rescue, and emergency medical services, 2nd Lieutenant Hesson brings a wealth of knowledge, training, and experience to the Western Region Jail Association. 2nd Lieutenant also serves as Treasurer for his daughter’s travel soccer team with Loudoun Soccer.
During his tenure with the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Corrections and Court Services Division, 2nd Lieutenant Hesson has worked assignments in confinement, training, new facility transition team, and administration. He is currently assigned as the Administrative Supervisor where he oversees Information Technology, Compliance and Accreditation, Facility Services, Training, Inmate Accounts, and Canine. He is a certified general instructor and firearms instructor for Virginia’s Department of Criminal Justice Services. He was the lead project manager in the development of the Corrections Canine Program, which was the first in the Northern Virginia Region.
2nd Lieutenant Hesson is a member of the American Jail Association, Western Region Jail Association, North American Police Working Dog Association, and the Virginia Working Dog Association. He is a graduate of the Professional Executive Leadership School (PELS) session 39 at the University of Richmond. He is also the recipient of a department Meritorious Service Award and a Commendation Award.