RICHMOND – Governor Ralph Northam announced additional appointments to his Administration today.
Secretariat of Agriculture and Forestry
Jewel Bronaugh, Commissioner, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Jewel Bronaugh, Ph.D. joins the Northam administration as Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS). She was previously Executive Director to Virginia State University’s Center for Agricultural Research, Engagement & Outreach and has served as State Executive Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency. She has also served as Dean of Virginia State University’s College of Agriculture. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from James Madison University. She earned a master’s in Education and doctorate in Career and Technical Education from Virginia Tech.
Secretariat of Public Safety and Homeland Security
Megan Peterson, Chief Deputy Director, Department of Criminal Justice Services
Megan Peterson has been appointed as Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Criminal Justice Services. She has previously served the secretariat as Homeland Security and Resilience Group Staff Director. Megan holds a bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science from the University of Vermont and earned her J.D. from the Washington and Lee University School of Law.
Shawn Talmadge, Assistant Secretary for Public Safety and Homeland Security
Shawn Talmadge has been appointed Assistant Secretary for Public Safety and Homeland Security. Previously, Shawn served as Director of the Virginia Department of Emergency Management’s Response Programs Division. He has also served as Director of Homeland Security and Resilience. He is a former Deputy Commander for the Virginia National Guard’s CBRNE Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP) and former Battalion Chief of the Hanover County Fire-EMS Department. Shawn holds a bachelor’s of science in human nutrition from Virginia Tech. He earned a master’s degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Danielle Crowley, Executive Assistant, Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security
Danielle Crowley has been reappointed as Executive Assistant to the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security.
Secretariat of Administration
Taylor O’Sullivan has been appointed Executive Assistant to the Secretary of Administration. He has previously served as Special Assistant to the Secretary of Transportation.
Secretariat of Health and Human Resources
Carole Pratt has been reappointed as Senior Advisor and Confidential Assistant for Policy at the Virginia Department of Health. Previously, she practiced general dentistry in Central Appalachia for 32 years. She is a graduate of Virginia Tech and the Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry.
Secretariat of the Commonwealth
Board Appointments
Board of Nursing
Board of Trustees of the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center
State Building Code Technical Review Board
Virginia Board for People with Disabilities
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