SCI Smithfield Superintendent Jamey Luther and Business Manager Debra Jadlocki presented Jeff Corbin, information technology generalist (ITG), with a certificate for 30 years of service. Jeff started at SCI Smithfield on March 6, 1989. He was the next "automation coordinator" hired by the DOC after the original group of six ITGs were hired during the summer of 1988. The original group have all retired, changed agencies or passed away by now, making him the "old man," he claims. He has spent his entire DOC career at SCI Smithfield and in the same office! Over the years, he considered changing jobs, but, for the most part, he says he likes what he does and likes helping staff. He also decided to stay at SCI Smithfield all these years because he did not want to travel outside of the area and take time from his family.
Jeff has seen many changes to automation over the years. In the earlier days of his career, he was part of developing numerous applications. When he started, Smithfield had only three computers and numerous dedicated word processors called CBT's. It took approximately three months to get a computer for his own use! Back then, if it had a cord attached and needed repaired, it ended up on his desk—mostly typewriters and desktop calculators. Inmates were not allowed access to any computer for any reason. The mainframe was the main repository of data and DOCnet wasn't even a dream back then. There was no network, email or internet. Inmate employment created a disk each day with the latest inmate information that got passed around to the other computers via "sneaker-net."
Jeff says that IT is constantly changing and that at times it's been challenging keeping up with the changes; however, he still likes what he does.