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:

DepartmentIncumbentInitial AppointmentNotes
Arkansas Department of AgricultureWes WardAsa Hutchinson
Arkansas Department of CommerceHugh McDonaldSarah Huckabee Sanders
Arkansas Department of CorrectionsJoe ProfiriSanders
Arkansas Department of EducationJacob OlivaSanders
Arkansas Department of Energy and EnvironmentShane E. KhourySanders
Arkansas Department of Finance and AdministrationJim HudsonSanders
Arkansas Department of HealthRenee Mallory, RN, BSNHutchinsonInterim
Arkansas Department of Human ServicesKristi PutnamSanders
Arkansas Department of the Inspector GeneralAllison BraggSanders
Arkansas Department of Labor and LicensingDaryl E. BassettHutchinson
Arkansas Department of the MilitaryMajor General Jonathan M. StubbsSanders
Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and TourismShea LewisSandersInterim
Arkansas Department of Public SafetyMike HagarSanders
Arkansas Department of Transformation and Shared ServicesJoseph K. WoodSanders
Arkansas Department of Veterans AffairsMajor General Kendall W. PennSanders

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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