The Cabinet of the governor of Arkansas is a body of the most senior appointed officials of the executive branch of the government of Arkansas. Cabinet officers are appointed by the governor. Once confirmed, all members of the Cabinet receive the title "Secretary" and serve at the pleasure of the governor. The Cabinet is responsible for advising the governor on the operations and policies of the state government department under their purview.

History

The cabinet system was created by Governor Asa Hutchinson. The Transformation and Efficiencies Act of 2019 was his signature piece of legislation, consolidating 40 state government departments into 15, with each headed by a cabinet secretary. Arkansas state government had been last reorganized in 1971.[1]

Current cabinet members

Governor Hutchinson with former Department of the Military Secretary Major General Mark Berry

The current Cabinet is as follows:

Department Incumbent Initial Appointment Notes
Arkansas Department of Agriculture Wes Ward Asa Hutchinson
Arkansas Department of Commerce Hugh McDonald Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Arkansas Department of Corrections Joe Profiri Sanders
Arkansas Department of Education Jacob Oliva Sanders
Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment Shane E. Khoury Sanders
Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration Jim Hudson Sanders
Arkansas Department of Health Renee Mallory, RN, BSN Hutchinson Interim
Arkansas Department of Human Services Kristi Putnam Sanders
Arkansas Department of the Inspector General Allison Bragg Sanders
Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing Daryl E. Bassett Hutchinson
Arkansas Department of the Military Major General Jonathan M. Stubbs Sanders
Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism Shea Lewis Sanders Interim
Arkansas Department of Public Safety Mike Hagar Sanders
Arkansas Department of Transformation and Shared Services Joseph K. Wood Sanders
Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs Major General Kendall W. Penn Sanders

Though the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT) is a similarly-named agency, the ArDOT director reports to the Arkansas State Highway Commission, and is independent of the governor.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ McClain, Andrew. "Act 910 of 2019". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Little Rock: Butler Center for Arkansas Studies at the Central Arkansas Library System. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
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