Governor Promotes New Leader To DOC
Eric Strauss, deputy director of the Montana Department of Corrections, will take the top leadership post there starting Jan. 6, the Governor’s Office announced.
The current director, Brian Gootkin, was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as a United States Marshal for the District of Montana.
In a news release this week, Gov. Greg Gianforte said Strauss will carry on Gootkin’s progress. He’ll oversee an annual budget of roughly $313 million.
“He’s committed to overseeing the historic investments we’ve made into our correctional facilities and building the future of corrections in Montana,” Gianforte said in a statement. “I’m grateful to Director Gootkin for his service to the State of Montana and I look forward to seeing what Eric accomplishes in this role.”
The Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge is in the midst of a $211 million reconstruction. Following a water crisis at the prison this fall blamed on deferred maintenance, the agency also announced a $21 million water infrastructure replacement project.
The Department of Corrections also oversees the Montana Women’s Prison in Billings, a smaller unit for women in Boulder, and a facility for youth in Miles City. The agency has inmates at four contract facilities as well, including two outside Montana, one in Arizona and one in Mississippi.
Strauss has served as the department’s deputy director since December 2024, the news release said.
Prior to that, he served for nine years as the administrator for the Employment Standards Division at the Montana Department of Labor & Industry, and he also previously worked as director of organizational excellence at St. Peter’s Hospital in Helena, the news release said.
In a statement, Strauss said he appreciated the governor’s trust and Gootkin’s leadership.
“I look forward to building on the department’s strong foundation and working alongside our dedicated staff and community partners to ensure a safer, more effective corrections system for all Montanans,” Strauss said.
A native of northeastern Montana, Strauss holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communications from the University of Montana, the news release said.
Strauss currently serves as a board member of Shodair Children’s Hospital and previously served as a board member for the Helena Area Habitat for Humanity and as a commissioner on the Commission on Community Service, according to the Governor’s Office. Strauss resides in Clancy with his wife and two kids.
