New Superintendent at Helms Facility

Commissioner: Timothy C. Ward

Director of Public Affairs: Joan Heath

Ryan Beland Promoted

FORSYTH, Ga. – The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) Commissioner Timothy C. Ward announced the promotion of Ryan Beland to Superintendent at Helms Facility, effective July 1, 2022. As Superintendent, Beland will be responsible for overseeing all staff and supervising approximately 81 male and female offenders.

"Beland’s leadership experience and work ethic have proven to be an asset to the agency," said Commissioner Timothy C. Ward. "We are confident that his correctional knowledge will benefit the staff and offenders as he begins his new leadership role at Helms Facility."

Beland began his career with the Department in 2011 as a Correctional Officer at Charles D. Hudson Transitional Center, and in 2013 he was promoted to Counselor. In 2017, he was promoted to Senior Counselor at Metro Reentry Facility, and in 2020 to Assistant Superintendent at Atlanta Transitional Center. In 2022, Beland was assigned as the Acting Superintendent at Helms Facility, where he currently serves.

Beland has earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master of Public Safety Administration degrees from Columbus State University. His departmental training includes Basic Correctional Officer Training, Basic Counselor Training, Basic Mental Health Training, Crisis Intervention Team Training, Effective Communication Training, Supervision I, II, and III, Management I, II, and III, and Assistant Superintendent Training.

About the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC)

The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) has one of the largest prison systems in the U.S. and is responsible for supervising nearly 52,000 state prisoners. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 10,500 employees. For more information on the GDC, call 478-992-5247 or visit https://gdc.georgia.gov.