Mr. Jerry R. Townsend is the current Superintendent at Piedmont Regional Jail Authority located in Farmville, Virginia. A Prince Edward County native, Mr. Townsend began his extensive career with the Virginia Department of Corrections as a Correctional Officer at Powhatan Correctional Center. Mr. Townsend, having worked at various prisons, flourished, and was promoted through the ranks of Assistant Warden and Superintendent. In Mr. Townsend’s 46 years of service in the corrections field, he has positively impacted and ensured the safety of many communities through his hard work, dedication, knowledge, and camaraderie. He is a model to others wishing to advance in their careers, speaking volumes about his character and leadership abilities. Throughout his career with the Department of Corrections, Mr. Townsend has held many security, leadership, evidenced-based, and dialogue business practice certifications. In 2017, Mr. Townsend was certified by the Academy of Professional Dialogue as a Working Dialogue Practitioner Faculty member. This certification has helped him learn how to sharpen his interpersonal and leadership skillset. Mr. Townsend also holds the Working Dialogue Practitioner Trainer certification that allows him to train others on sharpening their interpersonal skills, responding to crisis situations, and how to manage conflict. Holding these dialogue certifications has helped Mr. Townsend elevate his social and emotional intelligence to better serve as a Superintendent. He earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Administration of Justice at Southside Community College and served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Mr. Townsend is not afraid to take on challenges for the betterment of others and has proven this by running and being elected for membership on Prince Edward County’s Board of Supervisors and becoming a Certified County Supervisor by the Virginia Association of Counties. Mr. Townsend has always proven to exceed expectations, as he was awarded the “Superintendent of the Year” award for 2024 by the Virginia Association of Regional Jails. This accomplishment speaks volumes about his leadership capabilities and his dedication to his passion for improving the corrections setting. Mr. Townsend embodies wisdom and is a forward-thinking visionary. He believes that working as a team, embracing, and sharing different perspectives, treating others with respect, and implementing new initiatives leads to enhanced and impactful operations at regional levels. Mr. Townsend is a loving and devoted husband to his wife, Michelle, and father to his daughter, Chelsie. He is a faithful member of New Bethel Baptist Church and an active member of the Diaconate Ministry. In his free time, he enjoys playing softball, spending quality time with his family, and singing with the New Bethel Men’s Community Chorus.