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Jessica D. Aber unanimously confirmed as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia

Jessica D. Aber was officially sworn in today as the 63rd United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. U.S. Attorney Aber was nominated by President Biden on August 10 and unanimously confirmed by the Senate on October 5 for the position of United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Aber began her service to EDVA in 2009 as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, handling a variety of financial fraud, public corruption, violent crime, and child exploitation cases. She has served as the EDVA representative to the Richmond Division’s drug court for her entire tenure. From 2015 to 2016, she served on a detail assignment as counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice. Since 2016, Aber has served as the Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division for EDVA. Prior to joining the Department of Justice, Aber was an associate at McGuireWoods LLP from 2007 to 2008. She served as a law clerk for then-Magistrate Judge M. Hannah Lauck on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia from 2006 to 2007. Aber received her J.D. from William & Mary Law School in 2006 and her B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Richmond in 2003.
Nickolas Guertin nominated to be the Director of Operational Test & Evaluation at the Department of Defense  
President Biden has nominated Nickolas Guertin to be the Director of Operational Test & Evaluation at the Department of Defense. If confirmed, Mr. Guertin would succeed current Acting Director Ray O’Toole in the position. Mr. Guertin currently serves as Senior Software Systems Engineer at Carnegie Mellon University’s Software Engineering Institute. He is a retired Navy Reserve Engineering Duty Officer, was Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) certified in Program Management and Engineering and is a registered Professional Engineer (Mechanical). He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington and an MBA from Bryant University.
RAdm. Dennis E. Collins assumes command of the Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group  
RAdm. Dennis E. Collins recently assumed the command of the Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group. He succeeds former Commander, RAdm. Jacquelyn McClelland, in the position. He received a direct commission to the Supply Corps in 1998. RAdm. Collins has served as Supply Officer for Naval Mobile Construction Battalion TWENTY FIVE, Air Cargo Det Assistant Officer In Charge for Task Force 53, Training Officer, Navy Cargo Handling Battalion SEVEN, Air Readiness Officer for Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group, Officer in Charge of the NAVELSG Training and Evaluation Unit, Executive Officer, Navy Cargo Handling Battalion FOURTEEN, and Logistics Exercise Planner in the J7 Directorate of US Indo-Pacific Command. His command assignments include NR NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center Sigonella Det C, Navy Cargo Handling Battalion FIVE, NR SEVENTH Fleet Logistics Readiness Center Det, NR US Indo-Pacific Command Det 401, and Commodore, FIFTH Navy Expeditionary Logistics Regiment. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from DePaul University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Denver.
Vermont Governor names Chris Herrick to lead state's Department of Fish & Wildlife  
Gov. Phil Scott has tapped Deputy Commissioner Chris Herrick of the Department of Public Safety, to lead the state’s Department of Fish & Wildlife. Herrick will start his new role on Nov. 8 and will replace Louis Porter, who announced his plans to step down to become General Manager of Washington Electric Cooperative. As deputy commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, Herrick helped the state distribute Covid-19 testing supplies, managed Covid-19 surge sites and served as an incident manager for the State Emergency Operations Center. Previously, he was the director of Vermont Emergency Management. Herrick was born and raised in Greenfield, Mass. He attended St. Michael’s College and worked at the college’s fire department for several years. He later took a job at the Howard Center, helping differently abled adults, before pursuing a master’s degree in education at the University of Vermont. Additionally, he also worked as a deputy sheriff in Grand Isle County before becoming chief of Vermont’s first HAZMAT team in 1999. He has served five years as chief of the South Hero Volunteer Fire Department, and was a certified emergency medical technician for 25 years.
Jilma Meneses appointed Secretary for Washington's Department of Social and Health Services  
Jilma Meneses was named Secretary of the state Department of Social and Health Services by Gov. Jay Inslee. He replaces Don Clintsman who has been serving as acting Secretary since May. Meneses is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Charities of San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin Counties. At CCSF, she has directed strategy, management and operations of 30 direct human services programs for people with disabilities and HIV/AIDS survivors. Previously, Meneses was the executive vice president, chief operating officer and general counsel for Concordia University in Portland, Ore. She also worked as chief diversity officer at Portland State University and served as the university’s interim dean of the school of law. Meneses has been a Washington resident for the past 25 years, raising her family in the Camas area. She earned her law degree from Lewis & Clark Law School and her bachelor's degree from University of California, Berkeley. Meneses' appointment is effective January 3, 2022.
Maggie Kost has been appointed as Acting Director of the Missouri Economic Development Department  
Maggie Kost has been appointed as Acting Director of the Missouri Economic Development Department. Ms. Kost has served the department as Strategy and Performance Division Director and as Communications Director, prior to which she worked as Communications and Public Relations Manager for the Missouri Community College Association, as Communications Coordinator and Chief Writer for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, and as a Literacy Tutor for AmeriCorps of St. Louis. She earned a BS in Diplomacy and International Relations at Seton Hall University in 2011. Ms. Kost replaces outgoing Director Rob Dixon.
Valerie Huhn has been named Acting Director for the Missouri Department of Mental Health  
Valerie Huhn has been named Acting Director for the Missouri Department of Mental Health. Currently the department's Deputy Director, Ms. Huhn has served as Developmental Disabilities Division Director, as Missouri HealthNet Deputy Division Director in the Social Services Department, and as Assistant Budget Director and as Fiscal Administrative Manager in the Human Services Section of the Budget and Planning Division. She earned a BA in Business Administration, History, and Political Science at Culver Stockton College in 1998 and an MPA at the University of Illinois Springfield in 2000. Ms. Huhn succeeds retiring Director Mark G. Stringer.
Brandy Johnson has been named the next City Clerk for Tuscaloosa, AL

Ryan Kunitzer has been appointed as the new Fire Chief for John's Island, SC

President Biden nominates Michael F. Easley, Jr. to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina

LtCol. Steve Mattingly is the new Commander for the 138th Field Artillery Brigade

Boeing announces Heidi Grant of the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency will join the company as VP of Business Development

Heidi H. Grant is retiring as Director for the Defense Security Cooperation Agency

President Biden nominates Zachary A. Cunhar to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Rhode Island

Brig. Gen. Joseph L. Biehler assumes command of the New York Army National Guard's 53rd Troop Command on October 17 during a ceremony at Camp Smith Training Site near Peekskill

Republican Ben Kieckhefer has resigned from his position representing District 16 in the Nevada State Senate

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice has appointed Mark D. Scott to be Cabinet Secretary in the Administration Department

Governor Kevin Stitt appoints new District Attorney for Muskogee County, Oklahoma

Art Acevedo has been removed from from his position as Police Chief for Miami, FL

Christine James has been appointed as the new Parks and Recreation Director for Lawton, OK

Capt. Dan S. Catlin is the new Deputy Commander of the Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8)

Commander Patrick B. Bookey assumed command of Strike Fighter Squadron 37 (VFA-37) on October 14th, Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia.

Gen. Jacqueline D. Van Ovost is the new Commander for the US Transportation Command

Dr. Ravi Chaudhary nominated as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Energy, and the Environment

SAIC names new leader for its National Intelligence Community business unit