Appendix 7

Chief of Staff	Serves as deputy personnel and budget officer, oversees work of the governor’s cabinet and primary liaison to the General Assembly.
Secretary of Administration	There are seven state agencies that are overseen by the Secretary of Administration. These are the Compensation Board, Council on Human Rights, Department of Employment Dispute Resolution, Department of General Services, Department of Human Resource Management, Department of Minority Business Enterprise, and State Board of Elections. These agencies “manage the Commonwealth’s buildings and grounds, administer employee policies and benefits, oversee elections, safeguard human rights, work to improve manager-employee relations in state government, direct state funds to constitutional officers, and support development of Virginia’s small, minority-owned, women-owned, and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses.” http://www.administration.virginia.gov/.
Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry	The Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry oversees and provides policy guidance to two agencies: the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Virginia Department of Forestry. In addition to these agencies, the secretary oversees the Virginia Agricultural Council and the Virginia Marine Products Board. The mission of the agency is to promote the growth and development of agriculture, while providing “consumer protection and encouraging environmental stewardship.” http://www.ag-forestry.virginia.gov/.
Secretary of Commerce and Trade	The Secretary of Commerce and Trade oversees an agenda designed to support and promote the economic, community, and work force development of the Commonwealth. Commerce and Trade agencies include the Board of Accountancy, the Department of Business Assistance, the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Department of Labor and Industry, the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, the Department of Professional and Occupation Regulation, the Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Virginia Employment Commission, the Virginia Housing Development Authority, the Virginia Racing Commission, the Virginia Resource Authority, and the Virginia Tourism Corporation. http://www.commerce.virginia.gov/.
Secretary of the Commonwealth	The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s responsibilities include Keeper of the Seal of the Commonwealth, assisting the governor in the appointments of more than 4,000 individuals to serve on the Commonwealth’s boards and commissions, managing extraditions, clemency petitions, service of process, restoration of voting rights, pardons, authenticating foreign adoption documents, certifying notary publics, handling lobbyist registration, disclosures and conflict of interest filings, generating the State Organization Chart and publishing “The Report of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.” http://www.commonwealth.virginia.gov/. Note: The Secretary of the Commonwealth provides an excellent PDF graphic detailing how Virginia’s state government is organized. http://www.commonwealth.virginia.gov/StateGovernment/ StateOrgChart/orgChart.cfm.
Secretary of Education	The Secretary of Education is responsible for assisting the Governor in the development and implementation of the Commonwealth’s education policy. The Education Secretariat provides guidance to the Commonwealth’s public universities, higher education and research centers, the Community College System, the Department of Education, and state-supported museums. http://www.education.virginia.gov/.
Secretary of Finance	The Secretary of Finance provides guidance for the Department of Accounts, Department of Planning and Budget, Department of Taxation, and the Department of the Treasury. These agencies handle the financial working of the Commonwealth – from collecting taxes to paying bills to distributing aid to localities. Their responsibilities include forecasting and collecting revenues, managing the Commonwealth’s cash and investments, selling bonds, overseeing internal audits, making strategic financial plans, preparing and carrying out the Commonwealth’s budget. http://www.finance.virginia.gov/.
Secretary of Health and Human Resources	The Secretary of Health and Human Resources oversees the Board for People with Disabilities, Department for the Aging, Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services, Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired, Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Department of Health, Department of Health Professions, Department of Medical Assistance Services, Department of Rehabilitative Services, Department of Social Services, NewWell Fund, Office of the Comprehensive Services Act, and the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth. http://www.hhr.virginia.gov/.
Secretary of Natural Resources	The Secretary of Natural Resources’ responsibilities include advising the governor on the use and/or conservation of natural resources, public lands and waters, and historic sites. The secretary oversees the following key agencies: the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Department of Historic Resources, Marine Resource Commission, Virginia Museum of Natural History, Chippokes Plantation Farm Foundation, and Virginia Council on Indians. The Secretary serves as chairperson for the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation and is on the board of the Chesapeake Bay Commission. http://www.naturalresources.virginia.gov/.
Secretary of Public Safety	This office oversees agencies including Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), Board of Towing and Recovery Operators, Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ Services Council, Correctional Education, Corrections, Criminal Justice Services, Emergency Management, Fire Programs, Forensic Science, Governor’s Office for Substance Abuse Prevention, Juvenile Justice, Military Affairs, Parole Board, and State Police. http://www.publicsafety.virginia.gov/about.cfm.
Secretary of Technology	The Secretary of Technology oversees the Commonwealth’s Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) and the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA). Key responsibilities include developing and enhancing “…the efficient and effective use of information technology to simplify government operations, advance technology applications to improve public services, and drive the innovation economy through the Commonwealth’s leadership.…” http://www.technology.virginia.gov/.
Secretary of Transportation	The Secretary of Transportation oversees the Department of Aviation, Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Rail and Public Transportation, Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Dealer Board, Office of Transportation Public – Private Partnerships, Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority, and the Virginia Port Authority. A key responsibility is to ensure an efficient and safe transportation infrastructure in the Commonwealth. http://www.transportation.virginia.gov/.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security	Formerly the Office of Commonwealth Preparedness, the department was renamed Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security in 2010. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security oversees agencies and boards including the Department of Veterans Services, Virginia War Memorial, Virginia Military Advisory Council, Secure Commonwealth Panel, Virginia Commission on Military and National Security Facilities, State Interoperability Executive Committee, Board of Veterans Services, Joint Leadership Council, Veterans Services Foundation, Veterans Care Center Advisory Committee, and Fort Monroe Authority. http://www.vahs.virginia.gov/index.cfm.