Virginia Governor's Cabinet
The Virginia Governor's Cabinet is a body of the most senior appointed officers of the executive branch of the government of Virginia. The Cabinet is responsible for advising the Governor of Virginia. Cabinet officers are nominated by the Governor and then presented to the Virginia General Assembly for confirmation. Once confirmed, all members of the Cabinet receive the title "Secretary" and serve at the pleasure of the Governor.
The current Cabinet is serving under Governor of Virginia Terence McAuliffe.
In General
Appointment
Each Cabinet Secretary is appointed by the Governor of Virginia, subject to confirmation by the Virginia General Assembly if in session when the appointment is made. If the General Assembly is not in session, then the appointment is acted on by the General Assembly at its next succeeding session. Each Secretary is appointed for a four year term but may be removed at any time by the Governor. Before discharging their duties, each Secretary must take an oath to faithfully execute the duties of their office.
Powers and Duties
Each Cabinet Secretary is subject to direction and supervision by the Governor. All agencies assigned to each Secretary exercise their powers and duties in accordance with the general policy established by the Secretary acting on behalf of the Governor. Each Secretary has the power to resolve administrative, jurisdictional, operational, program, or policy conflicts between agencies or officials assigned to them, oversees and directs the formulation of program budgets for their assigned agencies, is responsible for holding their assigned agency heads accountable for their actions, and directs the development of goals, objectives, policies and plans for their assigned agencies.
Composition
The Governor's Cabinet is composed of the following officers, listed with the agencies they supervise:
- Secretary of the Commonwealth
- Secretary of Administration
- Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry
- Secretary of Commerce and Trade
- Secretary of Education
- Secretary of Finance
- Secretary of Health and Human Resources
- Virginia Department for the Aging
- Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Virginia Department of Health
- Virginia Department of Health Professions
- Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services
- Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
- Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services
- Virginia Department of Social Services
- Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired
- Secretary of Natural Resources
- Secretary of Public Safety
- Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
- Virginia Department of Correctional Education
- Virginia Department of Corrections
- Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services
- Virginia Department of Emergency Management
- Virginia Department of Fire Programs
- Virginia Department of Forensic Science
- Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice
- Virginia Department of Military Affairs
- Virginia Parole Board
- Virginia State Police
- Secretary of Technology
- Virginia Center for Innovative Technology
- Virginia Information Technologies Agency
- Secretary of Transportation
- Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security
Current Cabinet Members
As of January 2014, no Cabinet Secretary positions are vacant. The current Cabinet, serving under Governor of Virginia Terence McAuliffe, is as follows:
Office | Incumbent |
---|---|
Secretary of the Commonwealth | Levar Stoney |
Secretary of Administration | Nancy Rodriques |
Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry | Todd Haymore |
Secretary of Commerce and Trade | Maurice Jones |
Secretary of Education | Anne Holton |
Secretary of Finance | Ric Brown |
Secretary of Health and Human Resources | Bill Hazel |
Secretary of Natural Resources | Molly Joseph Ward |
Secretary of Public Safety | Brian Moran |
Secretary of Technology | Karen Jackson |
Secretary of Transportation | Aubrey Lane |
Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security | John C. Harvey, Jr. |