Seal of the Governor
For Immediate Release: September 7, 2018
Contacts: Office of the Governor: Ofirah Yheskel, Ofirah.Yheskel@governor.virginia.gov

Governor Northam Announces Administration Appointments

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam announced additional appointments to his Administration today.

Secretariat of Transportation

Morteza Farajian, Ph.D., Acting Deputy Secretary of Transportation
Morteza Farajian has been appointed Acting Deputy Secretary of Transportation, reporting to Secretary Shannon Valentine, during the remaining six weeks of Deputy Secretary Nick Donohue’s paternity leave. Morteza currently serves as Director of the Office of Public-Private Partnerships (P3) at the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and will continue to be responsible for this office. Prior to joining VDOT six years ago, Morteza worked in the private sector in a number of project management, construction, and development roles.

Morteza holds a Doctorate of Project Management from the University of Maryland, where he focused his dissertation on Structured Project Finance in P3s in the United States. He earned Master of Project Management and Bachelor of Civil Engineering degrees as well. Morteza serves on the Transportation Research Board’s Revenue and Finance Committee and P3 subcommittee.

Secretariat of the Commonwealth
Board Appointments

Board for Barbers and Cosmetology

  • Oanh “Tina” Dang of Virginia Beach, Owner, Miracle Beauty and Nails Academy
  • Alfred O. Mayes of Suffolk, Master Barber and Instructor, AL Mayes Barbering AMB, LLC

Data Sharing and Analytics Advisory Committee

  • Arlyn Burgess of Charlottesville, Associate Director, Data Science Institute, University of Virginia
  • Joshua Levi of Leesburg, Vice President for Policy, Northern Virginia Technology Council
  • Rowley Molina of Hanover, IT Risk Manager, Altria

State Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board

  • Michel B. Aboutanos, MD, MPH, FACS* of Richmond, Professor & Chief, Division of Acute Care Surgery; Medical Director, VCU Trauma Center, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center; representing the American College of Surgeons      
  • John C. Bolling of Bristol, Retired Chief, Bristol Fire Department; representing the Southwest Virginia EMS Council
  • Valeta C. Daniels of Chesterfield County, Transfer Coordinator, Chippenham Hospital; Volunteer, Goochland Fire and Rescue; representing the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads
  • Kevin Dillard of Spotsylvania, President and CEO, LifeCare Medical Transports; representing the Virginia Ambulance Association
  • Angela Pier Ferguson, BSN, RN, CPAN, NRP of Lawrenceville, Virginia Commonwealth University Community Hospital, South Hill; Member, Greensville Volunteer Rescue Squad; representing the Old Dominion EMS Alliance
  • Dillard E. Ferguson, Jr. of Goochland, Deputy Chief, Goochland County Department of Fire-Rescue & Emergency Services; representing the Virginia State Fire Fighters Association
  • William “Billy” Ferguson* of Rocky Mount, Director, Franklin County Department of Public Safety; representing the Virginia Association of Governmental EMS Administrators
  • Jonathan Henschel*of New Market, President, Lord Fairfax Emergency Medical Services Council; representing the Lord Fairfax EMS Council
  • Sudha Jayaraman MD MSc FACS* of Richmond, Associate Professor of Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine; representing the Medical Society of Virginia
  • LoriKnowles* of Stafford, Deputy Chief of EMS, Stafford County Fire & Rescue; representing the Rappahannock EMS Council
  • John Korman* of Washington, DC, Communications Operations Manager, Fairfax County Government; representing the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials
  • Matt Lawler of Staunton, EMS Captain, Augusta County Fire & Rescue; representing the Central Shenandoah EMS Council
  • The Honorable Rich Orndorff, Jr. of Strasburg, Mayor, Town of Strasburg; representing the Virginia Municipal League
  • Jeremiah O’Shea, MD of Midlothian, Chief Medical Officer, HCA Capital Division; representing the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association
  • Jose V. Salazar* of Sterling, Deputy Chief of EMS, Loudoun County Fire & Rescue; representing the Northern Virginia EMS Council
  • Gary Samuels of Mechanicsville, Bon Secours Health Systems EMS Outreach Coordinator serving Rappahannock General Hospital (Kilmarnock, VA) and Mary Immaculate Hospital (Newport News, VA); representing the Virginia Professional Fire Fighters/IAFF
  • Thomas E. Schwalenberg of Yorktown, Division Chief and Chief Medical Officer, City of Chesapeake Fire Department; representing Tidewater EMS Council
  • The Honorable Gary Tanner of Appomattox, Nuclear Safety Trainer, BWXT NOG-L; former Chairman, Appomattox County Board of Supervisors; representing the Virginia Association of Counties
  • Sadie Thurmanof Yorktown, Assistant Chief Nursing Officer, Riverside Regional Medical Center; representing the Peninsula EMS Council
  • Allen Yee, MD of Moseley, Operations Medical Director, Chesterfield County Fire & EMS; representing the Virginia College of Emergency Physicians

Virginia Board of Veterans Services

  • Tammi R. Lambert of Prince William, United States Army Veteran
  • The Honorable John Lesinski of Washington, Executive Vice President with Colliers International

Virginia Board of Workforce Development

  • Julie A. Gifford of Virginia Beach, Marketing and Public Relations Director, BECO Asset Management, LLC

Virginia Geographic Information Network Advisory Board

  • Pravin Mathur of Henrico, Director of Geospatial Information Systems, Clark Nexsen Inc.
  • The Honorable Turner Perrow of Lynchburg, Councilmember, City of Lynchburg

Virginia Wine Board

  • Tayloe M. Dameron of Charles City, Co-Owner, Upper Shirley Vineyards
  • Patrick Duffeler II* of Williamsburg, President and CEO, The Williamsburg Winery
  • Luca Paschina of Barboursville, General Manager and Winemaker, Barboursville Vineyards Inc.

*denotes reappointment

# # #