Kathleen Hawk Sawyer

In 1976, Hawk Sawyer was employed as a psychologist at the Federal Correctional Institution, Morgantown in Morgantown, West Virginia. This employment started her career with the Federal Bureau of Prisons. She was named Chief of Psychology Services at the institution in 1983.[5] Hawk Sawyer started her career in 1976 as a psychologist at the Federal Correctional Facility in Morgantown, West Virginia. She went on to hold positions at various prisons across the United States, including at Sargus Juvenile Detention Center in St. Clairsville, Ohio. While at the Sargus Juvenile Detention Center, she established a psychological counseling program for juveniles and their families. In May 1989, she became the assistant director for the Program Review Division at the Central Office of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.[5][7] While in that position, she "was responsible for developing and implementing a system of internal controls for all Bureau operations."[7]

On December 4, 1992, Hawk Sawyer was appointed the director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons by William Barr, the Attorney General at the time.[5] While director, she focused her efforts on reducing recidivism by giving more opportunities for education and employment to prisoners. She also sought to offer secondary education at every federal institution, and substance abuse programs. Hawk Sawyer retired from the position in 2003.[5][7]

On August 19, 2019, Barr re-appointed her as director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons as part of a shake-up following the death of Jeffrey Epstein.[6]