FCI Leavenworth

When I stepped off my flight from Los Angeles into Kansas City on a Sunday afternoon, I felt immediate gratitude for the privilege of continuing this mission. I’m thankful to Regional Director Andy Matevousian for introducing me to Senior Deputy Regional Director Eric Williams, who exemplifies leadership in action. It takes courage and conviction for senior Bureau of Prisons leaders to welcome someone like me—a person who once served 26 years in federal prison—into their community. They are carrying forward the vision of Deputy Director Josh Smith and Director William Marshall, strengthening a Bureau that prioritizes hope, accountability, the pursuit of excellence, and preparation for success.

Eric Williams was already waiting at the curb outside baggage claim when I arrived. He provided true curbside service, driving me straight to my hotel on Aviation Boulevard before accompanying me for gourmet burgers at Red Robin. Over dinner we talked about the agency’s direction, the renewed focus on reentry, and how shared effort between staff and community partners can move the mission forward.

After dinner we headed to FCI Leavenworth, where Eric introduced me to Warden Crystal Carter and Executive Assistant Edna Maine. Their commitment to the Bureau’s mission was obvious the moment I met them. Instead of staying home with their family—on a Sunday evening—they returned to the prison, even though we were in the midst of a federal budget shutdown. They put in the work to ensure people in custody could receive a message of hope and accountability.

While I work for myself and consider this effort my personal ministry—a way of giving back to everyone who once guided me—it amazes me when I get to work with federal employees who are willing to spend a weekend evening away from family to further this mission. It’s my mission–not necessarily their mission. Yet when they heard that I would only be in town for a few hours, they stepped up. They promoted the event to fill seats in the auditorium. We need to develop these types of collaborations with dedicated staff who allow me to promote this mission of pursuing excellence, with each person striving to become extraordinary and compelling.

Thanks to their dedication, we filled the Leavenworth auditorium twice—two sessions reaching more than 200 people. I shared my story of incarceration and reentry, emphasizing that every day in custody brought a chance to prepare for higher levels of liberty and success upon release. I appreciated the audience’s energy and felt grateful to respond to the thoughtful questions. As always, I reminded the men that success begins with personal responsibility, continuous learning, and documenting their journey to become extraordinary and compelling.

We didn’t walk out of the prison until around 9:00 pm on Sunday evening. The dedication of the Leavenworth team—and of leaders like Deputy Director Josh Smith, Regional Director Andy Matevousian, Senior Deputy Regional Director Eric Williams, and FCI Leavenworth Warden Crystal Carter—shows that the Bureau of Prisons is moving decisively toward a culture of excellence. Even in the middle of a government shutdown, they were building hope, demonstrating integrity, and executing Director Marshall’s vision of a stronger, more effective Bureau.

For me, that night felt like a symbol of partnership between staff, leadership, and the community. Together, we are creating pathways for more people in prison to earn freedom through merit.

It was the perfect way to begin another week of travel and outreach—and a powerful reminder that our shared mission is bigger than any one individual.

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