Former Manchester Inmate Appointed Deputy Director of Federal Bureau of Prisons

MANCHESTER, Ky. — In a historic first for the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), a man who once served time at the Federal Correctional Institution in Manchester has now been appointed to one of the agency’s highest leadership roles.

Joshua Smith, of Knoxville, Tenn., who was convicted of marijuana and cocaine trafficking in the Middle District of Tennessee in 1998, served a five-year prison sentence that ended in 2003. Part of that time was spent at FCI Manchester. In June 2025, President Donald Trump appointed Smith as Deputy Director of the BOP, an appointment later confirmed by the agency. It marks the first time in history that a formerly incarcerated person has held a top leadership role in the Bureau.

From Inmate to Advocate

After his release, Smith rebuilt his life as an entrepreneur. In 2019, he founded the Fourth Purpose Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to “transforming prisons into places of purpose and personal growth.” The organization has worked nationwide to promote rehabilitation, reentry programs, and reform in correctional institutions.

His advocacy drew national attention, and in January 2021, on his last day in office, President Trump granted Smith a full pardon.

A Landmark Appointment

Smith’s appointment is being hailed as groundbreaking, placing someone with firsthand experience inside the federal prison system into a position of influence over its policies and direction. BOP Director William Marshall, also a Trump appointee, said Smith brings a “perspective shaped by lived experience” that is invaluable to reform efforts and in advocating for prison staff resources.

Faith at the Core

Smith’s time in Manchester also marked a personal turning point. According to Scottie Sumner, a retired BOP employee and now pastor of Horse Creek Baptist Church, Smith was saved while serving his sentence at FCI Manchester.

In a recent sermon, Sumner shared how Smith got on his knees in prayer before his release, asking the Lord to guide him and pledging not to bring shame to God’s name. Sumner said that moment of faith became the foundation for the life of service and reform Smith has pursued ever since.

National Impact

Smith’s rise is both remarkable and deeply symbolic. A man who once walked the prison yard here now holds the title of Deputy Director of the very agency that oversaw his incarceration. His story is being seen as a powerful testament to redemption, faith, and the possibility of change.