Isaac Fulwood Jr. has served on the U.S. Parole Commission since November 2004, after he was appointed by President George W. Bush. President Barack Obama promoted Fulwood to chairman of the commission in May 2009. The Commission is a semi-autonomous agency within the US Department of Justice that decides parole cases involving certain federal and District of Columbia (DC) prisoners.

 

A native of Washington, DC, Fulwood was born on April 28, 1940, at Freedman’s Hospital. The son of a construction worker, he grew up with his parents and eight siblings and was educated in the DC public school system. After graduating from Eastern High School in 1959, Fulwood went to work an apprentice to his uncles, Ted and Bob, at Linens of the Week repairing laundry machines. 

 

He married Ruth Johnson in August 1962, and originally thought about becoming a fireman. But when no job opportunities arose, Fulwood turned to the DC police department and joined the force in 1964.

 

He went on to spend 29 years as a law enforcement officer in DC, including three years as chief of police (1989-1992).

 

After retiring from the police force, he was appointed executive director of the DC mayor’s Youth Initiative Office, putting him in charge of managing, planning and directing developmental programs and activities for children and youth.

 

From 1993 to 1994, Fulwood served as senior marketing representative for Pepsi Cola in Washington, DC, and as a consultant to the Systems Planning Corporation on the use and development of military equipment by civilian law enforcement organizations.

 

He is an adjunct professor at the University of the District of Columbia, where he teaches law enforcement subjects, community policing, and ethics in law enforcement. Additionally, he serves as a special assistant recruiting law enforcement personnel for enrollment at the university.

 

Fulwood has worked as an expert on security issues for the law office of Gilbert and Kiernan as well as on the board of directors for 16 organizations.

 

Fulwood and his wife have a son, Gary, and a daughter, Angela.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Chairman Isaac Fulwood Jr. (U.S. Department of Justice)

Interview with Isaac Fulwood, Jr. (by Pat Taffe Driscoll, Capitol Hill History Project)

Biography (ConnectDC2000)