Harrell Gray began his corrections career as a Deputy Sheriff at the Orleans Parish Prison in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1987 after serving 3 years in the United States Army. In 1994 he began working at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, Louisiana as a Correctional Officer. He joined Corrections Corporation of America in 1997 as a Correctional Officer and since 1997 he has been assigned to Corrections Corporation of America facilities in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas serving in various leadership positions. In May 2010, he transferred to the Marion Adjustment Center in St. Mary, Kentucky as the facility Assistant Warden, after serving in the same position at other facilities since January, 2004.