Karei McDonald Jr. has a long and distinguished career in state government, with nearly 30 years of experience working for three state agencies. McDonald serves as Executive Deputy Commissioner for the MDOC which serves as the Commissioner of Corrections in his absence. McDonald also serves as the Deputy Commissioner of Administration and Finance.
McDonald came to the MDOC in February 2020 from the Office of the State Auditor, where he had worked since August 2004. Positions he held included director of performance audit, deputy director of investigations, senior special agent for investigations, and special agent for investigations.McDonald has extensive experience in criminal and civil cases, audit reviews, personnel management, and other areas combining law enforcement with accounting and fiscal accountability.
Before joining the State Auditor's office, McDonald served as chief fiscal officer for the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. He came to that position after having served as a staff accountant for the Mississippi Department of Health.
McDonald, a Jackson native, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Mississippi College. He is also a graduate of the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Training Academy, the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy, and the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police/F.B.I. Command College.
Additionally, McDonald is a certified law enforcement officer, certified fraud specialist, certified fraud examiner, and certified Office of Inspector General investigator.
He is a former president of the Greater Jackson Law Enforcement Officers Association and was honored as a Top Cop recipient for the Central Mississippi Crime Stoppers in 2010.
The division of Administration and Finance is responsible for the following agency functions:
- Human Resources
- Budgeting
- Fiscal Comptroller
- Procurement, Property and Warehousing
- Agricultural Enterprises