Deal nominates two for state agency leadership positions

Gov. Nathan Deal today announced that he has nominated Clyde Reese to succeed David Cook as the commissioner of the Department of Community Health and Keith Horton to succeed Reese at the Department of Human Services. 

 

Upon approval by the Department of Community Health Board, Reese would return to DCH as commissioner on July 1 after leading the Department of Human Service since the beginning of the Deal administration. He was DCH commissioner in 2010. After a period of private law practice, Reese returned to state government in 2007 as the Executive Director of the Division of Health Planning at DCH. In early 2008, he resumed the role of General Counsel. Gov. Sonny Perdue appointed him to be DCH commissioner in April of 2010. He has an undergraduate degree in World History from Georgia State University and a law degree from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University.

 

The Department of Community Health administers a $12 billion budget, overseeing the state Medicaid program, the State Health Benefit Plan, health information technology and healthcare facility regulation.

 

Cook is leaving the agency to become Secretary of the state Senate. There, he will serve as an official administrative officer and unofficial parliamentarian of the Senate. Cook will also assist with Senate Rules updates and production, and will serve as a member of the Senate Administrative Affairs Committee and the Legislative Services Committee.

 

Horton currently serves as deputy director of the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency. As deputy director, he oversees the budget, facilities, human resources, IT and legislative services within the agency. He formerly worked at DHS in several capacities, including DHS rehabilitation services transition team leader, director of the Division of Child Support Services, and deputy director of Office of Child Support Services. In 2006, Horton retired as a lieutenant colonel from the U.S. Army after serving for 20 years. Prior to his tenure in the Army, he served as deputy director of Combat Arms Force Management Division at the Pentagon from 2003-06. Horton earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Albany State College and a master’s degree in Individual and Family Development from South Carolina State University. 

 

Horton’s appointment is subject to approval by the Department of Human Services Board and would take effect July 1.

 

The $1.5 billion department oversees the provision of human services throughout Georgia. This includes aging, child welfare and child support services, and public assistance programs, including the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program, the Food Stamp program and Medicaid eligibility.