Michael Cantrell

Michael Cantrell, host of the acclaimed Prison Officer Podcast (www.theprisonofficer.com), brings over three decades of corrections expertise to his work as a writer, speaker, and trainer. After retiring from the Federal Bureau of Prisons as Chief of the Office of Emergency Preparedness, Michael has established himself as a leading authority in correctional operations, crisis management, and leadership development.

Throughout his distinguished 30-year career, Michael has led special response teams, disturbance control units, and canine teams. He holds multiple instructor certifications in firearms, non/less lethal weapons, breaching, and disturbance control, and is widely recognized as a foremost expert in correctional breaching techniques.

As a prolific writer, Michael has authored over fifty articles published in respected industry publications, including the ILEETA Journal, CorrectionsOne.com, and American Jails magazine. His literary portfolio includes several books: POWER SKILLS for Correctional Officers, Born of the Ozarks, Monotonous Chaos: The Ramblings of a Prison Guard, Finding Your Purpose: Crafting a Personal Vision Statement to Guide Your Life and Career, and The Keys to Your Career - The Prison Officer Podcast Job Guide.

Currently serving as both the Director of Correctional Training for Command Presence and a Master Instructor for PepperBall, Michael remains actively engaged in the field as a sought-after consultant specializing in the use of force protocols and physical security assessments. His expertise as a Training Coach has made him a regular speaker on leadership, resilience, and crisis management for organizations nationwide.

When not sharing his knowledge with the next generation of correctional professionals, Michael resides with his wife on their farm in the beautiful Ozark County, Missouri, where he continues to create content that serves and supports the corrections community.

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