Braun names more bureau chiefs on eve of inauguration • Indiana Capital Chronicle

Gov.-elect Mike Braun late Friday named eight people to lead various state agencies and departments in the new administration. Braun is scheduled to be sworn in on Monday, January 13.

The appointments include:

• Jon Ford, Executive Director of the Office of Energy Development. Ford is a former state legislator who has run Reliable Energy — a trade association formed in 2020 by Alliance Coal and Hallador Energy to advocate for Indiana’s coal industry and other energy producers.
• Stacy Hughes, Executive Director of the Education Employment Relations Board
• Jake Speer, Indiana State Librarian
• Clint Woods, commissioner of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Woods is a former deputy EPA air administrator who moved to academia.
• Terry Seitz, executive director of White River State Park
• Matt Brown, Director of the Indiana State Personnel Department
• Joe Hoage, executive director of the Indiana Gaming Commission

Agency leadership, who have not been specifically named, will remain in their current roles through the upcoming inauguration, which will ensure continuity and stability, according to a release. Each agency’s performance and the work of current leaders will be evaluated to determine whether remaining in their roles will be the best fit for the Braun administration.

A few key agencies that do not have managers include the Department of Workforce Development and the Department of Revenue.

Braun has also unveiled a new cabinet organization as part of his administration, including the appointment of Molly Craft as deputy chief of staff for communications in the governor’s office.