Montana Department of Corrections Director Eric Strauss announced Wednesday that Natalia Bowser has been selected as the agency’s new deputy director.
Bowser joined the Department of Corrections in August 2025 as chief of innovation, where she oversaw project management, research and analytics, security technology, desistance initiatives, safety culture efforts and infrastructure improvements.
Before joining the department, Bowser served for seven years as director of the Montana Board of Crime Control. She also held a range of finance and operations positions with the Montana Highway Patrol between 2003 and 2018.
State officials said Bowser’s mix of leadership, operational and policy experience made her a strong fit for the position as the department works through a period of transition and long-term planning for the future of corrections in Montana.
Bowser assumes the deputy director role immediately.
The appointment puts a relatively recent addition to the department into one of its top leadership posts as the agency continues to focus on modernization, safety and broader corrections policy challenges across the state.