Deputy Director for Administration & Law Enforcement Services

Darryl Littleton was appointed as Deputy Director for Administration & Law Enforcement Services effective Jan. 16, 2026, by Bureau Director Cam Ward. Previously, he served as a member of the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles following his appointment by Governor Kay Ivey on July 9, 2021.

Mr. Littleton was appointed on July 7, 2021, to serve a six-year term on the Parole Board, bringing with him more than 28 years of distinguished public service in law enforcement, protective services, and government operations.

Mr. Littleton’s extensive career includes more than four years of service on the Parole Board and 24 years with the Alabama State Troopers, where he rose through the ranks as both a trooper and supervisor. His professional experience includes serving as an APOST-certified law enforcement instructor, traffic homicide investigator, Task Force Zero DUI enforcement specialist, and protective detail leader for three elected officials. He also lead the Advance and Intelligence Unit and served as a legislative affairs liaison for the Alabama Department of Public Safety and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA).

Mr. Littleton’s passion for dignitary protection began in 1995 when he was appointed as an Executive Security Officer at the Governor’s Mansion. He served in the Highway Patrol Division from 2004 to 2007 before returning to progressively more demanding protective services roles as a State Trooper Corporal, culminating in his retirement in 2020. Through extensive training with the U.S. Capitol Police and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia, Mr. Littleton became a subject matter expert in dignitary protection and served as the division’s lead trainer.

In 2022, Mr. Littleton spearheaded efforts to modernize the board’s traditional parole file review process. Through weekly consultations with career bureau employees, he developed a Microsoft Excel–based structured decision-making tool designed to reduce errors and enhance parole suitability analysis. This innovation allows board members to more efficiently organize and evaluate both static and dynamic parole data. His continued advocacy for technical advancements also resulted in secure remote access to parole data for board members up to two weeks prior to hearings, ultimately leading to the real-time interactive use of computer technology during live parole hearings.

Mr. Littleton proudly holds an associate degree in HVAC from John Patterson Technical College in Montgomery and a bachelor’s degree in Technical Management from Southern New Hampshire University. He is trained in the Ohio Risk Assessment Systems (ORAS) and is an active member of the Association of Paroling Authorities International and the American Probation and Parole Association. Additionally, Joe served 11 years in the United States Army and United States Army Reserves.

Beyond his professional career, Mr. Littleton is a past president of Autism Support of Alabama and has served on its board of directors since 2014, reflecting his long-standing commitment to community service.