Christopher Hansen Named Interim Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has appointed Christopher Hansen to serve as Interim Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC). His appointment follows the resignation of former Commissioner Frank Strada earlier in October. 

Hansen will continue to serve as Assistant Commissioner of Community Supervision, a position he has held since 2023. In this role, he oversees about 1,100 employees and has led the implementation of TN-STEPS, the department’s statewide evidence-based community supervision model. 

“Chris Hansen is a committed public servant with decades of experience in corrections and public safety,” Gov. Lee said in a news release. “His knowledge of the Tennessee Department of Correction makes him uniquely qualified to lead, and I am grateful for his willingness to serve Tennesseans during this transition.” 

Prior to joining TDOC, Hansen led California’s Solano County Probation Department and served as chief U.S. probation officer for Nevada. Other roles spanned corrections, probation and policing in Florida. 

Hansen earned an education doctorate in justice leadership from Nova Southeastern University and master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the University of South Florida.