The Prison Officer Podcast 106: Jujitsu, Justice, and Leadership - Interview w/Bryan Antonelli
Brian Antonelli, known throughout corrections as "the fixer," pulls back the curtain on what it takes to restore order in some of America's most challenging prisons. Drawing from 32 years of distinguished service in federal and state corrections, Antonelli shares candid stories about transforming troubled facilities like USP Hazleton, where he arrived shortly after high-profile homicides to implement sweeping reforms.
The conversation takes us through Antonelli's remarkable journey from Air Force security forces to becoming a nationally recognized correctional leader. With refreshing honesty, he discusses the realities of prison management – from dealing with gang violence and homicides over trivial debts to the delicate balance of pushing for reform without alienating staff. His experiences activating new facilities, managing high-security inmates, and designing emergency response protocols provide a masterclass in correctional leadership.
What sets this episode apart is Antonelli's unique perspective on physical discipline as a foundation for leadership. As both a black belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and a competitive powerlifter, he explains how martial arts training creates officers who make better decisions under pressure: "I think one of the biggest things that jiu-jitsu gives you is the ability to make tough decisions in the worst possible scenarios." This philosophy extends to his management approach, where he advocates empowering staff to develop solutions rather than micromanaging from above.
The conversation delves into practical leadership frameworks, including the OODA loop for decision-making and techniques for tactfully influencing superiors when necessary. Antonelli's guiding principle—"You can't have programming without discipline, order, and control"—resonates throughout as he explains his counterinsurgency-inspired "Seize Clear, Build, Hold" mod
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Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!