Seal of the Governor
For Immediate Release: January 10, 2020
Contacts: Office of the Governor: 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 Health and Human Resources

Vanessa Walker Harris, Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources and Senior Policy Advisor to the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Health
Vanessa Walker Harris has been appointed Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources, and Senior Policy Advisor to the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Health. Prior to her appointment, Vanessa served as Director of the Office of Family Health Services at the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). She has also served as Director of the Division of Prevention and Health Promotion in the Office of Family Health Services at VDH and as Medical Director of the Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control at the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. An Ohio native, she attended medical school and completed an internal medicine residency and endocrine fellowship at Johns Hopkins.

Secretariat of Public Safety and Homeland Security

Nicky Zamostny, Deputy Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security
Nicky Zamostny has been appointed Deputy Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security. She previously served as Assistant Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, where she served as the liaison to the Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Virginia Parole Board, and managed legislative initiatives within the secretariat. Nicky earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Virginia Tech and a Master of Social Work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Robert Dubé, Deputy Director of the Virginia Department of Fire Programs
Robert Dubé has been appointed Deputy Director of the Virginia Department of Fire Programs. Prior to his appointment, Robert served as the Fire Chief for the City of Alexandria. He previously served as County Administrator for Louisa County after 28 years at the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. Robert earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Safety Administration and a Master of Science degree in Executive Fire Service Leadership from Grand Canyon University. Additionally, he received an Executive Fire Officer certification from the National Fire Academy.

Secretariat of the Commonwealth
Board Appointments

Aerospace Advisory Council

  • Tom Michels of Washington D.C., Managing Director of Congressional Affairs, United Airlines

Board of Psychology

  • The Honorable Andrea O. Bailey* of Prince William, Prince William County Board of Supervisors, Potomac Magisterial District

Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite Sewage System Professionals

  • James N. Brockwell* of West Point, Owner, Brockwell’s Septic and Service, Inc.
  • Rosa-lee Cooke* of Big Stone Gap, Water and Wastewater Treatment Instructor, Mountain Empire Community College
  • Erica Duncan of Hanover, Superintendent of Operations, Henrico County Water Reclamation Facility
  • Jordan Evans* of Richmond, Legal Affairs and Policy Analyst, Virginia Retirement System
  • John Ewing* of Hanover, President, Old Dominion Onsite, Inc.
  • Pamela M. Pruett* of Warrenton, Licensed Onsite Systems Evaluator, Licensed Onsite System Operator, and President, Environmental Systems Consulting, LLC
  • Caleb Taylor of Christiansburg, Executive Director, NRV Regional Water Authority

State Rehabilitation for the Blind and Vision Impaired

  • Irene M. Conlin* of Virginia Beach, Volunteer Community Advocate for the Blind and Vision Impaired
  • Julie Akers* of Radford, President, Ability2Access
  • Christine Appert, EdD* of Charlottesville, Instructor, Curry School of Education, University of Virginia

Virginia Asian Advisory Board

  • Melody Agbisit, PhD of Norfolk, Counselor Educator and Social Entrepreneur
  • Suja Amir of Henrico, Policy Analyst, Association of American Physicians and Surgeons
  • Justin Lo of Richmond, Associate General Counsel, Virginia State Corporation Commission
  • Praveendharan Meyyan of Arlington, Senior Economist, Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • Carla Okouchi of Fairfax, Music Educator and Choral Director
  • Marie A. Sankaran Raval, MD of Henrico, Pediatric Anesthesiologist and Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
  • Jewan “Jack” Tiwari of Prince William, President, Nepalese American Forum for Political Empowerment and Realtor and Small Business Owner, Prime Estates Inc. and Arbina LLC

Virginia Fire Services Board

  • R. Scott Garber of Staunton, Fire Chief, City of Staunton Fire and Rescue Department

*denotes reappointment

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