Ellsworth Correctional Facility has a new warden. Donald Langford started his new job Nov. 17, but he will split his warden responsibilities between ECF and the Larned Correctional/Mental Health Facility until a new warden is named there.

“I worked there as warden for three years,” Langford said. “Prior to that, I worked at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility for 27 years.”

Langford succeeds longtime ECF Warden Marty Sauers, who retired in September.

Langford started his career with the Kansas Department of Corrections in 1989 at what was then the Kansas State Industrial Reformatory. Over time, he was promoted up through the KDOC ranks from an office assistant to warden.

“I chose to come here,” he said. There are great staff here. They are a family-oriented staff. I’ve known a lot of them since I since I worked in Hutchinson back in 1989.”

For Langford, the first item on his list as the new warden at ECF is to get to know the facility. That includes the staff, the layout and operations of the facility. He plans to have an open door policy during his tenure as warden.

“I prefer to go by Don,” he said. “I don’t like Warden Langford, Mr. Langford. I want staff to know me as Don and offenders to know me as Mr. Langford. I want to get to know the staff and offenders here, and get to know what programs we offer here.”

Langford said his goal is for ECF to be successful.

“For me, successful is our staff going home to their families safe every day,” he said.

Langford said the greatest strength at ECF is the staff.

“From that, I would say it’s what we do for programming,” he said. “That’s through Barton Community College — people earning their associate’s degree or their vocational degree — and then what skills we give people to change their mindset when they are released.”

Langford said he has worked with past ECF leaders such as Louie Bruce, Johnny Goddard, Dan Schnurr, Marty Sauers.

“I am a very personable person,” Langford said.“I want to talk to staff. I want to talk to offenders. I want to find out what’s going on with our staff. What can I do to help them with their job. I like staff to be able to make good, sound decisions, and give them the tools to help them do that.”

Langford and his wife, Tamara, have been married for 34 years. The couple lives on the family farm in Reno County and have three children and one grandchild.

Langford plans to participate in local community events.

“I believe in not only me being involved, but our staff being involved in those community events,” he said.