The Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Tyrone Oliver announced on May 28 the reassignment of David Stokes, currently Warden at Central State Prison, to Warden at Coastal State Prison effective June 1, 2026. In his new role, Stokes will oversee staff members and approximately 1,700 male offenders.
“David has worked his way up through the ranks and excelled at each position he has held,” said Commissioner Oliver. “We are confident that he will lead with integrity and continued dedication as he begins his tenure as Warden at Coastal SP.”
Stokes began his career with the Georgia Department of Corrections in 2013 as a Correctional Officer at Coastal State Prison. He was subsequently promoted to Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Chief of Security during his time there. In 2019, he became Assistant Superintendent at Long Unit and later advanced to Superintendent in 2024. That same year, Stokes served as Special Assistant to the Warden at Coastal State Prison before being promoted to Warden.
His departmental training includes Basic Correctional Officer Training, CERT Basic, TACT Basic, Supervision I-III, Management I-III, Sergeant’s Academy, Chief of Security Training, Assistant Superintendents Training, and Warden’s Pre-Command.
The Georgia Department of Corrections is one of the largest prison systems in the United States and supervises approximately 50,000 state prisoners. It is also the largest law enforcement agency in Georgia, with around 9,000 employees.
