The awardee of the Warden of the Year is recognized during the Annual NAAWS Training Conference. The awardee and their Agency Head are expected to attend the Warden of the Year Banquet held by NAAWS.
The NAAWS Warden of the Year Award recognizes a warden who has gone the extra mile to solve problems in their organization, involve themselves in community and local organization, and mentored in the development of others.
Warden Melinda Braman
Michigan DOC
| 2023-2024 Warden Melinda Braman, MI |
2022-2023 Warden Douglas Fender |
2021-2022 Senior Warden Wilmot "Sandy" McCain, LA |
2019-2020 Superintendent Dennis Breslin, NY |
| 2018-2019 Warden Robert Hererra, TX |
2017-2018 Kathleen Gerbing, NY |
2016-2017 Jerry Goodwin, LA |
2015-2016 James L Jones, TX Alan Lazaroff, OH |
| 2014-2015 Hector Rios, OK |
2013-2014 Sherri Duffey, OH |
2012-2013 Robert Lacy, Jr., TX |
2011-2012 Catherine Linaweaver, IL |
| 2010-2011 Louis Scott Folino, PA |
2009-2010 Ralph Kemp, CCA-GA |
2008-2009 Millicent D. Warren, MI |
2007-2008 James Le Blanc, LA |
| 2006-2007 Brian Fischer, NY |
2005-2006 Mike Samberg, CCA |
2004-2005 Fredric A. Rosemeyer, PA |
2003-2004 Dale A. Brown, Cornella Companies |
| 2002-2003 Burl Cain, LA |
2001-2002 Emmitt Sparkman, MS |
2000-2001 Pam Withrow, MI |
1999-2000 Ron Edwards, OH |
| 1998-1999 Walter Kelly, NY |
1997-1998 Timothy T. Schuetzle, ND |
1996-1997 Everett Perrin, FL |
1995-1996 Hal Whitley, AZ |
| 1994-1995 Robert D. Hanningan, KS |
1993-1994 Patrick Keohane, Federal BOP |
1992-1993 Jim O'Sullivan, SK, CAN |
1991-1992 Jerry Petterson, TX |
| 1990-1991 Gene Scroggy, GA |
1989-1990 Judy Anderson, SC |
1988-1989 Wayne Estelle, CA |
1987-1988 Hilton Butler, LA |
| 1986-1987 Dale E. Foltz, MI |
1985-1986 Thomas R. Barry, NY |
1984-1985 Bobby D. Morgan, TX |
1983-1984 Pierre Viau, Quebec, CAN |
| 1982-1983 Phillip Coombe Jr., NY |
1981-1982 Carl Robinson, CT |
1980-1981 George Summer, CA |
1979-1980 Roger Crist, MT |