The Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has named Carlos Hernandez as the new superintendent at Avery-Mitchell Correctional Institution in Spruce Pine.
Hernandez is 24-year corrections veteran who has served as the assistant superintendent for custody and operations at Mountain View Correctional Institution since 2014. He began his career in 1992 as a correctional officer at the former Western Youth Institution in Morganton and has served in staff and supervisory positions at Marion and Alexander correctional institutions.
The native of Cuba has an associate's degree in business administration from American Inter-Continental University, is a graduate of the Department of Public Safety’s Correctional Leadership Development Program and is a certified state mediator. Hernandez is a leader of the DPS Mountain Region Drug Interdiction Team and has been a member since the team was established. He has also been a member of the Prisons Emergency Response Team for six years.
Avery-Mitchell Correctional Institution houses approximately 850 adult male inmates in medium custody. It employs a staff of about 315 employees.
Hernandez succeeds Mike Ball, who retired.