Officers
WRJA Officers for 2024-2025
Officers are elected by a majority vote of WRJA members. We are committed to continuous training, sharing knowledge, and networking to assist each and every one of us in our day-to-day roles in corrections. We trust that 2022 will be a better year!
Listed below are our officers:
President
Deputy Superintendent Chris Hayes – Western Virginia Regional Jail
Deputy Superintendent 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.
Vice President
Ernie Alley / New River Valley Regional Jail
Sergeant Alley has been at The New River Valley Regional Jail for 16 years. Over the duration of these years Sergeant Alley has filled the roll of Field Training Officer and Master Jailor. He was a Housing Sergeant and has since become a sergeant in the Services Department. Sergeant Alley is a 2019 graduate of the Virginia Association of Regional Jails Leadership Initiative.
Treasurer
1st Lieutenant Joshua Heddings / Loudon County Sheriff’s Office
1st Lieutenant Joshua Heddings has over 22 years of law enforcement experience. He began his career in corrections in 1999 with the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office. In 2001, he transitioned to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and has worked through the ranks to where he is currently serving as the Staff Duty Officer for the corrections division. Lt. Heddings has experience in court security, corrections, administration, information technology, community custody as well as serving in various supervisory/leadership roles throughout this career. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Liberty University and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from George Mason University. He has also an alumnus of the Professional Executive Leadership School (PELS session 46) in conjunction with the University of Richmond and has completed the FBI LEEDA Leadership Trilogy. He has also served on the Underwater Search and Evidence Recovery Team (USERT) since 2008.
Secretary
Sergeant MacKenzie Trenar / New River Valley Regional Jail
Sergeant MacKenzie Trenar has been a valued member of the New River Valley Regional Jail for the last nine
years. Her career in corrections began in 2015 as an officer in the Correctional Division. Sgt. Trenar
obtained her Field Training Officer certification, as well as her Master Jailor status, in 2018. In 2019, she
joined the Virginia Regional Jail Association and earned her certification as a DCJS General Instructor.
Shortly after in 2020, she was promoted to the rank of corporal, overseeing the Training Division. That
same year she became the agency’s first female Firearms Instructor. Continuing to further her training,
in 2021, she received her certification as Driving Instructor and Baton Instructor. In 2022, the
New River Valley Criminal Justice Training Academy recognized Sgt. Trenar’s contributions to the
Academy by presenting her with the Chairmans Award for outstanding instruction and assistance to the
Academy. Sgt. Trenar was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2023, and became a Team Leader for her jail’s
Emergency Response Team.