**UPDATE: Parade Canceled (see details at article end)**
On January 2, 2017, North Carolina’s incoming Governor, Roy Cooper, named new members to his senior staff after taking office one day prior. According to the Governor’s Office, the following have been named:
To administer the state budget Cooper has appointed Charlie Perusse as State Budget Director.
Perusse has experience administering state budgets and writing them to lead Office of State Budget and Management. He leaves his job as Chief Operating Officer for the University of North Carolina system to join Cooper’s team. Previously he has worked as State Budget Director and as a lead fiscal analyst for the NC General Assembly.
Cooper has appointed Barbara Gibson to direct the Office of State Human Resources to work on behalf of the state’s thousands of employees.
Gibson is one of the longest serving state personnel directors and has led the NC Department of Justice Human Resources Department for 16 years.
Cooper has appointed William McKinney to serve as his Legal Counsel and advise on legal affairs.
McKinney served as Special Counsel to Cooper in the NC Attorney General’s office, and prior to that worked in private practice in South Carolina and for the US State Department.
Serving in the Governor’s press office is Noelle Talley, who brings years of state government communications experience to the job.
Talley most recently was Public Information Officer for the NC Department of Justice.
“We are putting together a deeply talented team and I’m excited that these experienced leaders with proven results will help me move our state forward,” Cooper said.
On January 3, 2017, Governor Roy Cooper named two additional leaders to his administration as he builds his team to lead North Carolina over the next four years.
To lead the Department of Environmental Quality, Cooper has selected Michael Regan, a leader in environmental advocacy with experience in working with energy and businesses.
Regan served as Southeast Regional Director of the Environmental Defense Fund and National Director of the Energy Efficiency Southeast Climate & Energy Policy from 2008-2016. He also worked with the EPA on air quality for the Clinton and Bush administrations from 1998-2008.
He is a native of eastern North Carolina and a graduate of North Carolina A&T University with a master’s degree in public administration from George Washington University.
“Michael Regan has the environmental background to know that protecting state resources is vital to our state’s health and economic climate,” Cooper said. “He also has the government experience and diplomacy to understand that working together is the way to get things done.”
Cooper named Jim Trogdon, an engineer with decades of leadership in state government and the military to lead the NC Department of Transportation.
Trogdon had served as Chief Operating Officer for the DOT before his retirement in 2013 and as Director of Strategic Transportation planning for the NC General Assembly. He leaves his current work at SAS Institute as National Transportation Director to lead the DOT.
Trogdon is a Major General who holds a master’s in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College as well as two civil engineering degrees from NC State University.
“Jim Trogdon knows North Carolina’s transportation successes and challenges better than anyone, and he will bring technical know-how and smart solutions to the job,” Cooper said. “Our state’s growing population and business climate need good roads and smart mass transit, and he will lead the way.”
Cooper today also installed experienced managers to temporarily supervise state cabinet agencies. These appointees will oversee state departments while the process for appointing cabinet secretaries is completed.
Cooper has asked the following individuals to serve as caretaker supervisors of the following departments:
- Britt Cobb, Department of Administration
- George Sherrill, Department of Commerce
- Bill Ross, Department of Environmental Quality
- Dempsey Benton, Department of Health and Human Services
- Kevin Cherry, Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
- Linda Hayes, Department of Public Safety
- Ron Penny, Department of Revenue
- Mike Holder, Department of Transportation
“We’re hitting the ground running by making sure veteran managers are in place across state agencies,” Cooper said. “I’m grateful these experienced public servants have agreed to serve temporarily.”
Other Cooper Administration senior staff and cabinet officers will be announced.
The official site of the Governor’s Office is Governor.nc.gov.
Inauguration Events
North Carolina’s inauguration ceremonies will be January 7, 2017, in downtown Raleigh. Due to inclement weather, Governor Cooper tweeted these changes:
Additionally, the Junior League of Raleigh organizes an Inaugural Ball and other events, with tickets available at www.jlraleigh.org/inaugural-ball. Prices vary, with some tickets over $150 and black-tie dress required. *Check with the Junior League for concerns about possible event changes.
Ed. Note: Thank you to Noelle Talley and Samantha Cole for additional details.
