Maine Corrections Commissioner Randall Liberty to Retire

Maine Department of Corrections Commissioner Randall A. “Randy” Liberty will retire Oct. 1 after a career spanning more than four decades in corrections, law enforcement and the military, Maine Gov. Janet Mills announced Sept. 9.  

As Commissioner, Liberty helped develop and implement the Maine Model, which emphasizes rehabilitation, human dignity and community reintegration. His tenure prioritized vocational training, education, substance use treatment and staff wellness, according to the governor’s office. 

Liberty previously served as Warden of the Maine State Prison from 2015 to 2019. Before that, he spent more than 26 years with the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office, including nine as elected sheriff, focusing on drug enforcement, education and addiction treatment. 

A 24-year military veteran and Bronze Star Medal recipient, Liberty also supported programming for incarcerated veterans. During his tenure as Maine State Prison Warden, his team established a Veterans Unit that raises and trains service dogs for disabled veterans.  

“It has been the honor of my career to serve alongside the extraordinary team at the Maine Department of Corrections,” Liberty said in the announcement. “I am deeply grateful to every Department employee whose dedication made this work possible, and to Governor Mills for her steadfast trust and support as we’ve worked to redefine what corrections can look like.”

Deputy Commissioner Anthony Cantillo will become acting commissioner upon Liberty’s retirement. Cantillo joined the department as a correctional officer in 2013. As Warden of the Maine Correctional Center, he oversaw the completion of and transition to a new facility in 2022. He became Deputy Commissioner in 2023.