Our Leadership

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.  

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

Wayne Propst has two decades of experience in state and federal government and financial management, including nearly a decade as executive director of the Public Employees Retirement Association of New Mexico, where he oversaw a $15.5 billion trust fund and worked with Gov. Lujan Grisham to enact comprehensive pension reform to improve the fund’s long-term solvency.

Robert E. Doucette, Jr. has been in public service for over 25 years. He worked at the WCA from April, 2011 to May, 2015, overseeing the agency’s operations and support functions. He has served as deputy manager of Sandoval County and was Deputy Superintendent of Insurance for New Mexico from 2015 to 2021.

David Dye has nearly 30 years of experience in Homeland Security as an Officer in the U.S. military and ten years of experience in military Emergency Management.  He has served on major staffs both in the United States and overseas supporting thousands of sailors, soldiers, airmen, Marines, their families and civilian employees.

James R. Mountain is a former governor of the Pueblo de San Ildefonso, where he led the pueblo in completing the decades old Aamodt Water Settlement, ensuring the pueblo’s water rights in perpetuity, as well as the principles of agreement with Santa Fe County in 2017 and the Indian Land Claims Settlement in 2006. 

Raja Sambandam was named the Department of Information Technology Acting Cabinet Secretary in June 2023. Mr. Sambandam joined DoIT in April of 2020 as the State Chief Information Security Officer. As an Information Technology professional, he brings more than 20 years of experience in Information Technology and business in the areas of Banking, Finance, Taxation, Healthcare, and Manufacturing.

Charles Reado serves as the acting executive director of the Office of African American Affairs. He has dedicated his life to public service, serving in the armed forces, in law enforcement, as a first responder, and in New Mexico state government.

Dr. Arsenio Romero, a native New Mexican and son of an educator, has spent the last quarter-century serving New Mexico communities as a school and district leader. Prior to his appointment as Public Education Department Secretary-designate, Dr. Romero served as superintendent of Los Lunas Schools and superintendent and CEO of Deming Public Schools.

Linda Trujillo began her career in state government fifteen years ago at the Regulation and Licensing Department. A trained attorney, Trujillo previously served in the New Mexico House of Representatives and worked in private practice.

Stephanie Schardin Clarke has over 20 years of experience in New Mexico government administration. She previously served as Deputy Secretary for the Department of Finance and Administration, Director of the State Board of Finance, and as Santa Fe County Finance Director.

Ricky Serna has worked in state government for over a dozen years and previously served as acting leadership for the Department of Workforce Solutions and the State Personnel Office. Prior to joining the administration he served as the interim president at Luna Community College.

Retired Army Col. Donnie Quintana has served in state government for several decades, most recently as Deputy Secretary and interim leader of the Department of Veterans Services. In addition to spending over 35 years in the military, he previously served as the Local Government Division Director for the state Department of Finance and Administration.