IDOC Biographies
Commissioner Buss's Biography
COMMISSIONER EDWIN G. BUSS
Governor Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. appointed Edwin G. Buss to be Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Correction effective August 1, 2008.
Before being appointed to Commissioner, Edwin G. Buss served as the Superintendent of the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City. Preceding his post at ISP, he was the Superintendent at the Westville Correctional Facility from 2002-2005, where he improved the operations of the state’s largest prison.
Buss began his career as a correctional officer at the Indiana State Prison in 1987 and by 1994 at the Lakeside Correctional Facility in Michigan City had been promoted to the highest rank for a uniformed officer. He joined the administrative ranks in 1997 when he was named a correctional unit team manager, responsible for three housing units and 1,850 inmates at the Indiana State Prison, then served as assistant superintendent of operations/programs from 1998 to 2001.
Commissioner Buss is a veteran having served his country in the United States Army in the mid-1980s. He has been a consultant with the National Institute of Correction for Organizational Cultural Competency work and is an auditor for the American Correctional Association (ACA). In 2005, was recognized by the Department of Correction as Superintendent of the Year. The Commissioner served as Commander of Indiana State Prison’s Emergency Squad for many years and was a charter member of the Agency’s Special Emergency Response Team (SERT).
Buss graduated from Bethel University in Mishawaka, Indiana, with a degree in Organizational Management. His wife, Dawn, is Superintendent of the South Bend Juvenile Correctional Facility. They have three children, Conner, Jacob, and Taylor.
Chief of Staff's Biography
Daniel G. Ronay
Daniel G. Ronay was named Chief of Staff for the Department of Correction in August 2008. Mr. Ronay began his career as a correctional officer with the Department in 1995, and he has served as the Commander of Camp Summit Boot Camp, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent at the Westville Correctional Facility, and as Assistant Superintendent of the Pendleton Juvenile Correctional Facility. Most recently, Mr. Ronay served as the Department’s Director of Staff Development & Training.
His tenure as Director realized the advent of Computer Based Training, realignment of the Juvenile & Adult Pre-Service Academies, a revised New Employee Orientation system, numerous certification courses, and noteworthy enhancements in the Leadership and Succession Management arenas. His Division was accredited by the American Correctional Agency, and individually, he earned the distinction as a Certified Corrections Executive by ACA in the past year.
Mr. Ronay was a three tour decorated combat veteran of the United States Armed Forces from 1974 to 2006, and in 2006, he received the Meritorious Service Medal for leading his soldiers in Iraq.
In addition to being the advisor to the Commissioner, Mr. Ronay oversees the Human Resources, Strategic Planning, Staff Development & Training, and Construction Services Divisions.
Deputy Commissioner Biographies
Cecil Davis
cdavis@idoc.in.gov
Cecil K. Davis was named the Deputy Commissioner of Operations for the Indiana Department of Correction in 2007. Mr. Davis has been with the Department since 1981. He began his career in corrections 27 years ago with experience in executive leadership and management positions at several facilities.
Mr. Davis has held numerous positions with the Department including the Northern Regional Director in 2006. He also served as Superintendent South Bend Juvenile Correctional Facility, Camp Summit Juvenile Facility and Indiana State Prison for four years. He is also a Veteran of the United States Army.
Deputy Commissioner Davis holds a Bachelors Degree from Indiana University. He is also a member of American Correctional Association (ACA) and Indiana Correctional Association (ICA). Mr. Davis also serves on the Valparaiso University Criminal Justice Advisor Board.
Bruce Lemmon
blemmon@idoc.in.gov
Bruce Lemmon was named the Deputy Commissioner of Re-entry and Community Programs with the Indiana Department of Correction in March 2007. Mr. Lemmon has been with the Indiana Department of Correction since October 1976, soon after his college graduation. Mr. Lemmon has held numerous positions within the Department that included Recreation Coordinator at Rockville Correctional Facility, Director of Indianapolis Men’s Work Release Center, Supervisor of Work Release and Correctional Units of Adult Facilities, and Regional Director of Adult Facilities. In these capacities, he has administered all facets of the correctional operation.
Mr. Lemmon holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education from Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana.
Randy Koester
rkoester@idoc.in.gov
Randy Koester is the Deputy Commissioner of Administration for the Indiana Department of Correction. In addition to directing the Department’s Legislative Affairs and Ethics Officers, Mr. Koester supervises the Research and Planning, Technology Services, Victim Services, and Food Services Divisions. He also oversees the PEN Products division. He functions as the Department’s liaison with other state, federal and local government officials.
He started with the Department as a Staff Attorney in 1991, and since that time has worked as the Agency’s Legislative Liaison, General Legal Counsel, Director of Intergovernmental Relations, Executive Assistant to the Commissioner, and Chief of Staff.
He began his legal career as a clerk and became a staff attorney with the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission. He also worked for three years as a Deputy Attorney General, serving in the Criminal Appeals and Government Litigation Divisions in the Attorney General’s Office.
Randy has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Corporate and Investment Finance from Indiana University’s Kelly School of Business, and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from Indiana University School of Law at Indianapolis.
Chief Financial Officer's Biography
Joseph Fistrovich was appointed the Chief Financial Officer for the Indiana Department of Correction in September 2008.
Mr. Fistrovich has nearly twenty years of experience in government finance, budgeting, procurement, and asset and inventory management. Fistrovich has spoken nationally on performance measurements and using these measurements to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of government.
Fistrovich has held many roles in budget directing and finance, including being the Lake County (IN) Budget Director from 1984 to 1988, Deputy Director of the State Office Building Commission from 1989-1990, CFO of IDOC from 1991-2005, CFO of the Criminal Justice Institute in 2006, and the Assistant Director for Health and Human Services for the State Budget Agency from 2007-2008.
Chief Communications Officer's Biography
Douglas S. Garrison
dsgarrison@idoc.in.gov
Douglas S. Garrison was named as the Communications Chief for the Indiana Department of Correction in February 2008. As a member of the Executive Staff, Garrison acts as the spokesperson for the Agency, keeping the media and members of the public apprised of the significant events that transpire within the Department of Correction. Garrison is charged with the responsibility of enhancing the Department’s communications effectiveness, and using new technologies and improved communication methods to advance the public’s understanding of the great advances being made in correctional services within the State of Indiana.
Garrison comes to the Department with an extensive background in media and public relations, having spent the last 13 years of his 26 year career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation as the Chief Division Counsel and public spokesperson for the Indianapolis Division of the FBI. As a member of the FBI’s Executive Management team, Doug provided advice and counsel in countless high-pressure command post situations, emergencies and investigative operations. During his career in Indianapolis, his public representation of the FBI helped establish strategic alliances across a broad spectrum of the Indianapolis business, educational, political, public safety and legal communities. After retiring from the FBI at the end of 2003, Garrison went on to head the award-winning Investigative Team (ITEAM) at WISHTV in Indianapolis from 2004 until May of 2007. As the leader of a five member team of experienced investigative journalists, Garrison’s efforts helped expose fraud, criminality, inefficiency and waste in government, and private and public programs.
Garrison received his Bachelor of Arts (with Honors) from the University of Wisconsin in 1975, where he studied Political Science, Philosophy and History. He went on to earn his Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) from Indiana University in 1978. Garrison is admitted to the practice of law in Indiana.
Legal Division Director's Biography
Robert Bugher
rbugher@idoc.in.gov
Robert Bugher has served in the capacity of Legal Services Director since June 2000. Mr. Bugher has also served as Staff Counsel for the Department since his original hire in April 1995. Before joining the Department, Mr. Bugher spent three years as a private attorney at Brown and Nelson in Indianapolis. Other significant legal experience includes over four years in the Office of the Indiana Attorney General, both in the capacity of a Law Clerk and Deputy Attorney General. He also spent two years as an Associate Planner in the Office of the Columbus Planning Department located in Columbus, Indiana.
Mr. Bugher has several degrees that include a Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree from the Indiana University School of Law (1991), a Master’s Degree in Public Affairs from the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs (1985) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Purdue University (1982).
Juvenile Division Executive Director's Biography
Kellie J. Whitcomb
kwhitcomb@idoc.in.gov
Kellie J. Whitcomb is the Executive Director of Juvenile Division for the Indiana Department of Correction.
She was previously the Superintendent of Logansport Juvenile Correctional Facility where she has served from 1994 to 2008. Ms. Whitcomb began her career in 1984 working with children and families within the Indiana Department of Public Welfare in Cass and White counties.
Ms. Whitcomb received her Bachelor of Science degree from Ball State University in 1982, receiving her degree in Education. She maintains an Indiana Teaching License and is also a Licensed Social Worker.
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