The superintendent of Lumberton Correctional Institution has been hired as the first administrator for the new Tabor Correctional Institution, which is expected to open in 2008.

George Kenworthy will be responsible for starting up Tabor Correctional, which will eventually house approximately 1,500 close and medium custody adult male inmates. The staff will include 515 correctional officers and support personnel.

Division of Prison officials anticipate a May 2008 opening, with the first inmates arriving the following September.

A native of Robeson County, Kenworthy has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from UNC-Pembroke. He is married, has two children and enjoys woodworking.

Kenworthy began his career as a correctional officer in 1982 at the old Scotland unit in Wagram. He rose through the ranks at McCain Correctional Hospital, Hoke Correctional Institution and Lumberton Correctional Institution, where he was named assistant superintendent for custody and operations in 2002 and was named superintendent in July 2003.

Among his roles has been prison emergency response team membership, training coordinator, instructor in unarmed self-defense and firearms training, shift commander, facility intelligence officer and facility drug interdiction team participation.