106: Jujitsu, Justice, and Leadership - Interview w/Bryan Antonelli

The Prison Officer Podcast

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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" model for regaining control of troubled facilities.
Connect with Brian on LinkedIn to continue the conversation about corrections leadership, or check out his books for deeper insights into restoring order in challenging correctional environments.

Bryan on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/bryan-a-9b88b44a

Bryan Books:

Leadership Field Manual For Correctional Professionals

SEIZE, CLEAR, BUILD, HOLD: REGAINING CONTROL OF TROUBLED PRISONS

Also, check out Michael's newest book - POWER SKILLS for Correctional Professionals

PepperBall
From crowd control to cell extractions, the PepperBall system is the safe, non-lethal option.
OMNI
OMNI is cutting-edge software designed to track inmates and assets within your prison or jail.
Command Presence
Bringing prisons and jails the training they deserve!
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Chapters

1. 106: Jujitsu, Justice, and Leadership - Interview w/Bryan Antonelli (00:00:00)

2. Podcast Introduction and Sponsor Message (00:01:09)

3. Introducing Brian Antonelli's Career Background (00:02:12)

4. Early Career in Corrections (00:09:01)

5. The Challenge of Hazleton (00:17:55)

6. Leadership Experience at Multiple Facilities (00:27:17)

7. Emergency Preparedness and Security Operations (00:35:59)

8. The Value of Jiu-Jitsu in Corrections (00:41:44)

9. Leadership Philosophy and Decision Making (00:48:49)

10. Developing Future Leaders and Current Role (01:00:08)

11. Closing Thoughts and Sponsor Message (01:11:00)