Beginning his career with DOC in 1989, Vance was one of the original correctional officers employed at EKCC. He was promoted to sergeant in 1990 and then lieutenant in 1991. As lieutenant, Vance was in charge of the minimum unit where he was instrumental in starting a downtown detail and Department of Transportation road crews. He also served as chairman of the adjustment committee.

Vance transitioned from security to programs by being promoted​ to unit administrator I in 1997 and unit administrator II in 2004. In the latter role, Vance was in charge of calculating meritorious good time (MGT) and processing disciplinary report appeals for the warden's office in addition to his regular duties managing his assigned living units. Vance retired from the DOC in 2012.

In 2019, Vance returned to EKCC as a unit administrator II. He also served as acting deputy warden of operations for seven months in 2021, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the medical unit, food service, inmate canteen, and maintenance department.

Vance was an active member of the Corrections Emergency Response Team (CERT) throughout most of his career. He started as a member of EKCC CERT in 1990, later rising through the ranks to become squad leader and then co-commander.

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