Gov. Hutchinson Appoints ADEQ, Securities, Veterans Leaders

Gov. Asa Hutchinson named three new cabinet-level positions on Tuesday.

Hutchinson has announced Becky Keogh as Director of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), Lt. Colonel Matt Snead as Director of the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs and Edmond Waters as Commissioner of the Arkansas Securities Department.

Keogh is a former Deputy Director at Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality. She currently serves as Regulatory and Environment Manager for BHP Billiton, a global resources company. Prior to that, she was a Vice President and Senior Project Manager for CH2M HILL, an international environmental and engineering consulting firm. She served as a commissioner of the Arkansas Geological Commission from 2006-2009 and, under the former Governor Mike Huckabee, served as Deputy Director of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality from 1996 to 2006.

Lt. Colonel Matt Snead is a 16-year veteran of the Arkansas National Guard, and plans to continue his service as a traditional Guardsman. He currently serves as the state public affairs officer for the nearly 10,000 soldiers and airmen of the Arkansas National Guard. Prior to that, he served for five years as the first legislative liaison for the Guard. He has held a number of command and staff positions, which includes a deployment to Iraq as a plans officer in 2007.

Waters is a former vice president of A.G. Edwards & Sons where he enjoyed a 21-year career as branch manager and financial advisor in the Ft. Walton Beach, FL and Destin, FL branches. Prior to that, he was self-employed in his native Helena-West Helena, Arkansas.

Hutchinson also made nearly a dozen appointments to boards and commissions in the last week.

They include:

Bill Benton, Heber Springs, to the Arkansas State Police Commission. Appointment expires January 14, 2016. Replaces Wallace Fowler.

Randy Wolfinbarger, Eureka Springs, to the State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission. Appointment expires January 14, 2021. Replaces Barbara Harvel.

Doyle Yates, Springdale, to the Arkansas Real Estate Commission. Appointment expires December 31, 2017. Replaces Allen Trammell.

Denny East, Marion, to the Arkansas Racing Commission. Appointment expires January 14, 2020. Replaces Thomas Akin.

Joe Whisenhunt, Conway, to the University of Central Arkansas Board of Trustees. Appointment expires January 14, 2022. Replaces Robert Adcock.

Chuck Graham, Lonoke, to the State Crime Lab Board. Appointment expires January 14, 2022. Replaces J. Fairley.

Stephen Whitwell, Little Rock, reappointment to Arkansas Cemetery Board. Appointment expires January 15, 2019.

Hutchinson also made the following special appointments for judicial cases:

Chris Gardner, Jonesboro, Special Associate Justice to Arkansas Supreme Court. CV-14-434.

Dustin Jones, Jonesboro, Special Associate Justice to Arkansas Supreme Court. CV-14-648.

Noyl Houston, Jonesboro, Special Associate Justice to Arkansas Supreme Court. CV-13-721

David Sterling, Little Rock, Special Associate Justice to Arkansas Supreme Court. CV-14-618