James Black has more than 37 years of experience in corrections and currently serves as GEO’s Senior Vice President and President of GEO Secure Services. As President of GEO Secure Services, Mr. Black is responsible for the operation and management of secure correctional facilities and immigration processing centers around the world. He oversees approximately 72,000 beds and over 14,000 employees at 55 diverse facilities across the United States, Australia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.
Mr. Black began his career in corrections in 1985 as a Correctional Officer with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). Over the next eight years, he rose through the ranks to the position of Senior Facility Administrator. After joining GEO, he served as Facility Administrator for several GEO-operated facilities in Texas and Florida before becoming Assistant Director of Operations in GEO’s Central Region Office. In 2005, Mr. Black was promoted to Director of Compliance for the Western Region. He later transferred to the position of Director of Operations before being named Vice President of the Western Region Office in 2009, where he was responsible for the operational oversight of 17 facilities and over 17,000 beds. He was later named Vice President of GEO’s Central Region, before being promoted to Senior Vice President in 2021.
Mr. Schiller joined The GEO Group, Inc. in 1997. As Executive Vice President of US Operations & International Services, Mr. Schiller oversees the international operations including Australia, South Africa and the United Kingdom. He works with the GEO business development group to ascertain new and expanded business. Mr. Schiller participates in profit/loss reviews, budgeting, forecasting, pricing, staffing, policies and procedures, special projects, etc. Mr. Schiller also oversees the food service department for Secure Services.
Prior to joining GEO, Mr. Schiller had a successful career in the hospitality industry holding various positions including General Manager of a number of full-service hotels. Mr. Schiller’s hospitality experience includes not only operational management, but REO, development & renovation and general property management as well.
Mr. Schiller holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a Master of Business Administration degree from San Diego State University.
As the Executive Vice President of GEO’s in-house transportation division, GEO Transport Inc. (GTI), Ed Stubbs is responsible for the oversight of all GTI operations. As the Executive Vice President in charge of all transportation for GTI Mr. Stubbs possesses a wealth of knowledge on all transportation related matters. His vast experience with preparing for and activating transportation contracts provides for a smooth transition from contract award to contract initiation.
With a 25 year Federal Law Enforcement career highlighted by appointment as United States Marshal by the U.S. Attorney General and appointed as Center Administrator for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE, formerly INS) Krome Detention Center, Mr. Stubbs has specialized in detention facilities with emphasis on enhancing operational efficiency, team building and high customer satisfaction.
Mr. Stubbs served as United States Marshal and Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal from 1985 to 1998 and again from 2000 to 2005. As the U.S. Marshal and Senior Manager for the Southern District of Florida, Mr. Stubbs oversaw all operations within the district which consisted of 105 employees, 50 Federal Judges, $50 million in seized assets, five contract jail facilities and a daily prisoner population of ,1400.
During his tenure, Mr. Stubbs served on several boards, among them the Central Courthouse Management Detention and Cellblock Construction Standards Committee. This initial workgroup developed the standards and designs which exists today for all new and renovation courthouse projects for the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS).
Mr. Stubbs is certified as a Jail Inspector, Officer Technical Representative, Weapons of Mass Destruction Instructor and Firearms Instructor.
He has been honored with the USMS Director’s Special Achievement Award on two separate occasions, Director of the U.S. Attorney’s Award, National Medical Facility of the Year Award for the Krome Detention Center, the Narcotic Enforcement Officer of the Year and a nomination for ICE Commissioners Award. He was appointed an Honorary Kentucky Colonel by the Governor and Order of the Long Leaf Pine by the Governor of North Carolina.
Mr. Stubbs attended Georgia State University majoring in Business Administration. He is a Vietnam Era Veteran and served in the United States Army Medical Corps from 1970 to 1978.
Kenny Cauley has more than 36 years of experience in the correctional industry, including a tenure of 20 years with the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Mr. Cauley has worked in the public sector at the facility and headquarter levels. He began his career in corrections as a Correctional Officer and worked his way up through the ranks at several correctional institutions. He was a Warden at two BOP facilities - the Federal Correctional Institution in Ashland, Kentucky and the Federal Correctional Institution in McDowell, West Virginia. He also served as Associate Warden at two other facilities - the Federal Correctional Institution in Terminal Island, California and the United States Penitentiary in Victorville, California.
Mr. Cauley gained additional correctional industry experience working as the Chief of Strategic Planning for the Program Review Division of the BOP. In this role, he was responsible for oversight and management of Executive Staff management indicator data, the BOP strategic plan, and the BOP’s Institution Character Profile Program.
He is currently GEO’s Executive Vice President, Security. He develops staffing plans, reviews facility design for new projects, and reviews security electronics and physical security components to ensure optimal blending of operational security programs with physical security features. He works with the Directors of Operations in each regional office to provide GEO’s various clients with security operations that are based on contract requirements and industry-wide best practices.
Mr. Cauley previously served as GEO’s Director of Operations for the Eastern Regional Office. In this role, he was responsible for performing advanced administrative support work for the facilities of the Eastern Region.
Executive Vice President, Operations, Secure Services
John Sheehan joined GEO in 2022 as Executive Vice President, Operations. He is a retired Senior Federal Law Enforcement Executive with 24 years of experience leading national security, protection, investigative, and detention operations.
Prior to joining GEO, Mr. Sheehan was appointed to the Federal Government’s Senior Executive Service in 2019 and held the position of Assistant Director with the United States Marshals Service, where he oversaw the safe, secure, and humane treatment of all individuals remanded to custody by the Federal Judiciary.
In this role, Mr. Sheehan oversaw the development of critical processes and internal controls that ensured Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines and requirements were adhered to by state and county facilities housing federal detainees.
Mr. Sheehan is a veteran, having served proudly in the Unites States Navy onboard the aircraft carrier, U.S.S. Kittyhawk (CV-63). He holds a B.S. and M.S. Degree in Security and Protection Management from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
Eastern Region Vice President
Paul Laird has over 31 years of correctional experience and presently serves as GEO’s Western Region Vice President. Before he was promoted to GEO’s Eastern Region Vice President in March 2024, Mr. Laird was also the Director of Operations in GEO’s Eastern Region Office before being promoted to Western Region Vice President in 2018.
Prior to his employment with GEO, Mr. Laird served 29 years in the Federal Bureau of Prisons in multiple positions of authority, including two assignments as Warden. He was appointed to the Federal Government’s Senior Executive Service in 2005. Mr. Laird was the Regional Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ North Central Regional Office, overseeing 20 Federal facilities. Prior to that assignment, he served 5 years as the Chief Operating Officer of Federal Prison Industries and Assistant Director of the Industries, Educational and Vocational Training Division. From 2005 through 2012, he served on the AbilityOne Commission as a Presidential Appointee representing the United States Department of Justice.
Mr. Laird has a BA Degree in Political Science and Criminal Justice from Gustavus Adolphus College and a Certificate in Public Administration from the University of Southern California. He also completed the Senior Managers in Government Course, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, in 2006.
Central Region Vice President
Frank Lara joined The GEO Group in August of 2018, as a Director of Operations in the Central Region. In May of 2021, Mr. Lara became the Regional Vice President for the Central Region.
Prior to GEO, he retired from the Bureau of Prisons after 26 years. As the Assistant Director for the Bureau of Prisons, Mr. Lara was responsible for the management and integration of goals, efforts, and accomplishments of Correctional Services, Correctional Programs, Emergency Management, Designations and Sentence Computations, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism, Witness Security and Victim Witness Programs, and Sex Offender Certification and Management.
Frank Lara began his career with the Bureau in 1992 as a Correctional Officer at FCI Seagoville (TX). During his tenure in the Bureau, Mr. Lara went on to serve in positions of increasing responsibility at FCC Beaumont (TX), FCI Three Rivers (TX), FCI La Tuna (TX) and USP Canaan (PA). Mr. Lara served as Associate Warden at FCC Allenwood (PA) and FCI Otisville (NY). In 2011, he was selected as the Administrator for the Correctional Services Branch, Correctional Programs Division. He served as Warden at FCC Beaumont (TX) and in 2014 he was named the New Warden of the Year.
In 2015, he received the Director’s Special Recognition Award. Mr. Lara joined the ranks of the Senior Executive Service in 2016. He assumed the position of Assistant Director, Correctional Programs Division in June 2017.
Before joining the Bureau of Prisons, Mr. Lara served four years in the United States Marine Corps.
Western Region Vice President
Paul Laird has over 31 years of correctional experience and presently serves as GEO’s Western Region Vice President. Before he was promoted to GEO’s Western Region Vice President in 2018, Mr. Laird was the Director of Operations in GEO’s Eastern Region Office.
Prior to his employment with GEO, Mr. Laird served 29 years in the Federal Bureau of Prisons in multiple positions of authority, including two assignments as Warden. He was appointed to the Federal Government’s Senior Executive Service in 2005. Mr. Laird was the Regional Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ North Central Regional Office, overseeing 20 Federal facilities. Prior to that assignment, he served 5 years as the Chief Operating Officer of Federal Prison Industries and Assistant Director of the Industries, Educational and Vocational Training Division. From 2005 through 2012, he served on the AbilityOne Commission as a Presidential Appointee representing the United States Department of Justice.
Mr. Laird has a BA Degree in Political Science and Criminal Justice from Gustavus Adolphus College and a Certificate in Public Administration from the University of Southern California. He also completed the Senior Managers in Government Course, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, in 2006.
Vice President, Operations
GEO Transport Inc.
Eben Morales joined The GEO Group, Inc. in 2017 as Vice President, Operations. He is a retired Senior Law Enforcement Executive with 26 years of experience leading security programs and operations in the public sector. Prior to joining The GEO Group, Inc., Eben held the position of Assistant Director with the United States Marshals Service. He has been involved with the most sophisticated, complex criminal and civil cases including international and domestic financial crimes, seizures and forfeitures, and high-profile fugitive investigations.
In his last assignment, Eben oversaw the agencies National Detention Program. In this capacity, he was responsible for the secure and humane housing, transportation, and medical care of all detainees remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service.
Eben currently serves as the Vice President of Operations for GEO’s in-house transportation division, GEO Transport, Inc (GTI). GTI provides armed, secure transportation services to federal, state, and local government agencies in the United States and internationally.
Eben is a member of the FBI National Executive Institute and the National Sheriffs' Association. Eben received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Barry University in Miami, Florida.
Vice President, Staff Development & Emergency Preparedness
GEO Secure Services
Nelson Hackmaster joined The Geo Group, Inc. in 2020 as Vice President, Staff Development and Emergency Preparedness. Nelson retired as the Associate Director for the United States Marshals Service where he served as the No. 2 Career Official and Chief Operating Officer responsible for all law enforcement missions for the Agency to include Investigative and Intelligence Operations, Judicial and Witness Security, Prisoner Detention, Tactical Operations, and Dignitary Protection.
In his previous assignment, Nelson served as the Assistant Director for the Prisoner Operations Division where he executed an operating budget of $1.8 billion to lead the federal prisoner detention mission for more than 60,000 detainees remanded to the custody of the Attorney General. Nelson also served as the Chief of Operations for the USMS Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System where he was responsible for prisoner air operations based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Las Vegas, Nevada, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Nelson began his USMS career in the Western District of Texas where he served 15 years along the Southwest border.
Nelson has 29 years of federal service and is a proud veteran having served his country in the United States Air Force prior to his USMS career. Nelson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a Master’s degree in Homeland Security from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in Leavenworth, Kansas.
Vice President, Transportation
Mr. Neill is a combat veteran who served as a Lieutenant during Operation Enduring Freedom. He came to GEO in 2011 after 8 years with the Colorado Department of Corrections. He started as an Officer at the Aurora ICE Processing Center and has worked his way through the ranks as a Field Training Officer, Transportation Officer, Transportation Supervisor, Transportation Manager, and Operations Compliance Manager for the Western and Central Regions, Assistant Director of Transportation, and now Vice President. He is also a T4T trainer. His current duties include the oversight of all transportation contracts, vehicles, air transports, policy and procedures, guidelines, and cost-related activities. Mr. Neill ensures that all transportation activities are accomplished on a timely basis in compliance with Federal/State laws, and GEO policies and procedures. Mr. Neill completed the American Correctional Association’s Certified Correctional Executive exam through the Corrections Certification Program and holds a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Southern Arkansas.