Seal of the Governor
For Immediate Release: April 8, 2018
Contacts: Alenaa Yarmosky, Alena.Yarmosky@governor.virginia.gov

Governor Northam Announces Administration Appointments

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

  •          Tucker Gleason, Ph.D. of Louisa, Associate Professor, Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, University of Virginia

Board of Trustees of the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center

  •          Steve Ahn of Damascus, Teacher, Washington County Schools
  •          Keith Perrigan, Ed.D. of Bristol, Superintendent, Bristol Virginia Public Schools

State Building Code Technical Review Board

  •          J. Kenneth Payne, Jr., AIA, LEED AP BD+C of Chesterfield, Vice President of Quality Control, Risk Management, and Training, Moseley Architects

Virginia Board for People with Disabilities 

  •          Sarah Kranz-Ciment, DPT, PT of Richmond, Project Director, Ruderman Chabad Inclusion Initiative; Director, Friendship Circle of Virginia; Owner and Founder, Steps PT

# # #