KNOXVILLE — Josh Smith is the deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a role he accepted less than a year before Memorial Day weekend. President Donald Trump personally selected Smith for the position.

Smith visited 64 federal prison facilities in his first year as deputy director. "I’ve been to 64 facilities in the first year. There’re people that have been 10 years in this career that have never seen that many prisons," Smith said. He has held staff recalls at every facility he visited. "I've done staff recalls at every prison that I go to. I welcome all the staff to come out, and they get to ask me questions or give challenges... you're starting to see that shift," he added.

Smith aims to reduce the federal prison system’s recidivism rate, which he says is approximately 44%. His approach draws on his business background: over 15 years, he built a home repair and waterproofing company into a $30 million enterprise with 180 employees before selling it in 2019. "Bringing the business experience into this role is probably one of the most valuable pieces that I bring," he said.

Smith’s personal history informs his work. At age 21, he was sentenced to federal prison in Kentucky for drug conspiracy related to marijuana and cocaine trafficking and served five years. By age 16, he had accumulated 10 felony charges for burglary and theft. After his release in his mid-20s, he started with a $6-an-hour job. In 2021, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee informed him that President Trump had granted him a full pardon. "People ask me, did you pay the president. I never met the president, never knew the president, I’ve never supported the president financially — nothing — it was mercy and grace," Smith said.

Smith founded the Fourth Purpose Foundation, which trains inmates for life after release. "We have almost 2 million people incarcerated... that guy served time in prison, and now he's leading the largest prison system in the world. Maybe I can stop making excuses, and I can start making some changes in my life," he said.