Kevin Kempf
Executive Director
Correctional Leaders Association

Kempf began his career in 1995 as a correctional officer at Pocatello Women's Correctional Center in the State of Idaho. He went on to serve in a variety of positions including parole officer, investigator, section supervisor, district manager, warden, chief of prisons and deputy director. The Idaho Board of Correction appointed Kempf director of the department in December 2014.

As director, Kempf was responsible for the entirety of IDOC's operations including its 10 prisons, four community re-entry centers and seven probation and parole districts. The department has an annual budget of $220 million and employs nearly 2,000 corrections professionals. They are responsible for the incarceration and community supervision of 22,000 felony offenders.

Under Kempf's leadership, the Department of Correction experienced reform in almost every area. Projects like Justice Reinvestment, Justice Program Assessment and Restrictive Housing Reform continue to have many positive effects on the system and elevated IDOC as one of the best corrections agencies in the country.

In 2006, Kempf was appointed to the Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision. The commission is the national organization that oversees the transfer and relocation of felony offenders across state lines. During Kempf's six years as Idaho's representative, his peers twice elected him to leadership positions. He first served as treasurer and later as vice president of the organization.

Kempf was an active member of the Correctional Leaders Association (CLA). Kempf served as Chairman of the Program and Training Committee and Treasurer of the Western States CLA.

In December 2016 Kempf was chosen as the Executive Director of the Correctional Leaders Association (CLA). CLA members are the CEO of Corrections for the United States.  

The Governor of the State of Idaho, C.L. Butch Otter, named December 16th "Kevin Kempf" day in Idaho for his tireless work and dedication to public safety.