Our Leadership

Michelle Lujan Grisham
Governor
Michelle Lujan Grisham is the thirty-second governor of the state of New Mexico, the first Democratic Latina to be elected governor in U.S. history…

Howie Morales
Lt. Governor
Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales, raised in Silver City, New Mexico, has spent his whole life working to improve the lives of people in his community and across our state…

Aging and Long-Term Services Department
Katrina Hotrum-Lopez served as the director of behavioral health services at Bernalillo County from 2016 to 2019 and previously served as the director of the county’s substance abuse programs. From 2007 to 2010, Hotrum-Lopez was deputy Cabinet secretary of the state Department of Health, one of several roles she held there.

Department of Agriculutre
Jeff M. Witte currently is President of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, a past president of the Western United States Agriculture Trade Association and on the board and past president of the Western Association of State Departments of Agriculture.

Children, Youth & Families Department
Brian Blalock was previously the law and policy director at Tipping Point Community, a Bay Area nonprofit that works to educate, employ, house and support impoverished residents. Blalock also founded and directed the Youth Justice Project, providing direct representation for Bay Area at-risk youth.

Department of Corrections
Alisha Tafoya Lucero has nearly two decades of experience in the New Mexico Corrections Department, beginning in 2001 as a classification officer and serving as Deputy Warden and Interim Warden of the Penitentiary of New Mexico and Interim Warden of Springer Correctional Facility.

Department of Cultural Affairs
Debra Garcia y Griego was previously the director of the city of Santa Fe Arts Commission, a position she held since 2012, during which time she led the city’s efforts to support arts and cultural affairs. She is also a member of the Executive Committee of Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education.

Early Childhood Education & Care Department
Elizabeth Groginsky has more than two decades of executive leadership experience administering public and private human service organizations at the national, state and local levels. She previously served as the assistant superintendent of early learning for the District of Columbia, a role she held for nearly five years.

Economic Development
Alicia Keyes was previously the film liaison for the city of Albuquerque, a role in which she initiated and oversaw the $1 billion agreement with Netflix to establish a landmark studio. She established a workforce training program with both the University of New Mexico and Central New Mexico Community College and was responsible for all film permitting and recruiting.

Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department
Sarah Cottrell Propst previously served as the Executive Director of the Interwest Energy Alliance, a non-profit trade association that represents the nation’s leading companies in the renewable energy industry, from 2012 to 2018, bringing them together with non-governmental organizations in the West (Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming).

Environment Department
James Kenney has spent more than 21 years across two stints at the Environmental Protection Agency, most recently as senior policy advisor for oil and gas, working with senior agency leadership and designing strategies to support environmentally responsible development of oil and natural gas resources while working with states, tribes, federal agencies and industries on regulatory and policy matters.

Department of Finance and Administration
Debbie Romero is a dedicated public servant with nearly 40 years of experience in state government. In addition to having worked in budgeting and finance across a wide variety of fields relating to public government, Romero most recently served as the Director of the State Budget Division at DFA.

General Services Department
Ken Ortiz was previously the administrator of business services in the Secretary of State’s Office, where he served from 2011 through 2018. As administrator, he was directly responsible for the Business Services Division, which includes business-related filings for corporations, LLCs, partnerships and more.

Department of Health

Higher Education Department

Human Services Department
David R. Scrase, MD, is a Professor of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. He is a Board Certified Internist and Geriatrician, and previously served as the Interim Division Chief for General Internal Medicine and the Chief of Geriatrics at UNM.

Department of Indian Affairs
Lynn A. Trujillo brings two decades of experience working in partnership with native communities. She previously worked with Native American tribes and organizations throughout New Mexico as the Native American Coordinator for USDA Rural Development programs, bringing resources to communities across the state.

Department of Information Technology
John Salazar brings more than 25 years of experience in the information technology and management field to the role of State CIO, having served as a longtime chief information officer with specialized experience leading information technology organizations, including the information technology divisions of several New Mexico state government agencies.

New Mexico National Guard
Major General Kenneth A. Nava serves as the Adjutant General for the State of New Mexico. As the Adjutant General, he serves as senior military advisor to the Governor and is responsible for providing the State of New Mexico and the United States with a ready force of citizen Airmen and Soldiers.
Office of African American Affairs

Department of Public Education
Ryan Stewart is an educator with diverse classroom and leadership experience in public education and education reform. He previously served as executive director of the Partners in School Innovation mid-Atlantic region and as executive director of the Office of School Improvement and Innovation at the School District of Philadelphia, the eighth-largest school district in the country.
Department of Public Safety
New Mexico State Police Chief Tim Johnson has two decades of experience working in law enforcement and public safety. He previously served in executive leadership and management of the Investigations Bureau and oversaw the Criminal Investigations and Impact Teams, Narcotics Unit, Special Investigations Division, Technical Unit, and Criminal Enforcement Unit.
Regulation and Licensing Department
The Superintendent of the Regulation and Licensing Department ensures that New Mexicans receive quality care and services from qualified professionals.

State Personnel Office
Pam Coleman previously worked in various White House roles in the administration of President Barack Obama. Coleman was special assistant to the president for leadership development; a special assistant for energy and the environment; and served as the director of the outreach and recruitment team in the presidential personnel office.

Taxation and Revenue Department
Stephanie Schardin Clarke has over fifteen years of experience working in New Mexico state and local government administration. She served as Deputy Secretary for the Department of Finance and Administration, where she oversaw the agency’s internal administration and was a member of several State policymaking boards and councils.

Department of Tourism
Jen Schroer most recently served as Executive Director of the Davis Chamber of Commerce in Davis, Calif, and also served on the California Economic Summit Council where she helped contribute to efforts to address income inequality and economic security. Prior to that, Schroer served as President & CEO of the New Mexico Hospitality Association.

Department of Transportation
Michael Sandoval has spent more than 20 years at the New Mexico Department of Transportation, most recently serving as executive manager of modal divisions, a role in which he oversaw 300 contracts and 12 ports of entry and major programs such as the Railrunner, commercial vehicle permitting and traffic safety.

Department of Veterans Services
Sonya L. Smith is a veteran and health care professional who served in the Gulf War. She previously served as the clinical compliance manager at the University of New Mexico Truman Health Services clinic and most recently worked at the New Mexico Department of Health as a special projects coordinator.

Department of Workforce Solutions
Bill McCamley was a Las Cruces-area state representative from 2012 through 2018. He was chairman of the House Labor and Economic Development Committee, where he oversaw progress on critical issues like wage theft and increasing the minimum wage. He has long been a statewide leader in job creation activities like workforce training, border trade and cannabis legalization.
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