Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday appointed veteran law enforcement officer Jennifer Rudden Conway to the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles.
Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles Director Cam Ward administered the oath of office to Conway at the bureau’s headquarters Wednesday morning.
Conway, a 25-year veteran of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, will fill the spot left by former Associate Member Darryl Littleton, who was appointed in 2021.
Littleton stepped down from the board in January to become deputy director of administration and law enforcement services for the Bureau of Pardons and Paroles. Conway will serve the remainder of Littleton’s term, which expires June 30, 2027. She may be renominated and reappointed to the board by the next gubernatorial administration. Board members serve six-year terms.
“Jennifer Conway possesses a deep knowledge of criminal law matched with decades of first-hand experience investigating and bringing the most hardened offenders to justice,” Ivey said in a statement. “I cannot think of a more qualified person to sit on the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles ensuring each case is carefully reviewed and the public’s interest is protected. I look forward to her service.”
Conway joins Board Chair Hal Nash and Associate Member Gabrelle Simmons on the board, which determines whether incarcerated individuals are granted parole and oversees certain aspects of the state’s clemency process.
Ivey selected Conway from a list of five candidates submitted by a legislative committee composed of Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth, House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter and Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger. Her appointment is effective immediately, though she must be confirmed by the Alabama Legislature when lawmakers convene for the 2027 regular session.
Conway said in a statement that she intends to approach the position with a focus on public safety and collaboration.
“I appreciate Governor Kay Ivey’s trust in me and am committed to fulfilling my duties on the board for the people of Alabama,” Conway said. “I understand the importance of my role on the board and the need to collaborate with fellow board members to make informed decisions. I take the responsibility of the board very seriously and ensure my decisions will always prioritize public safety.”
Conway began her career with the ATF in 2001 as a special agent in Greensboro, North Carolina, where she worked alongside state and local law enforcement agencies to combat gang-related drug and firearms crimes.
She transferred to the Middle District of Alabama office in 2003, then spent the next 13 years rising through the ranks from special agent to senior special agent while investigating gang-affiliated firearms trafficking and criminal enterprises.
In 2016, Conway was promoted to resident agent in charge for the Middle District of Alabama, overseeing ATF special agents and task force officers responsible for investigating violations of federal firearms, arson and explosives laws. Her work also contributed to the success of the Montgomery-area Metro Area Crime Suppression Unit.
Conway graduated from Jacksonville State University in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science degree after studying biology and chemistry.
