CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Governor-elect Jim Justice named the first cabinet secretary of his administration Wednesday. Former Wood County Sheriff Jeff Sandy will serve as the secretary of the state Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety.
Sandy has a long career as a federal investigator. He was elected sheriff in Wood County in 2008 and was elected as chairman of the Regional Jail Board in 2012.
Justice said Sandy has the kind of experience he wants on his team.
“I want the best and brightest to serve in my administration and Jeff Sandy’s experience and qualifications are second to no one,” Justice said in a news release. “Jeff served our country and the people of Wood County with distinction and I am totally confident that he will continue his extraordinary service to the people of West Virginia. Jeff Sandy is prepared to keep West Virginians safe and make sure our state is ready to handle emergencies.”
As the head of DMAPS Sandy will be in charge of the West Virginia State Police, the Division of Corrections, Regional Jail Authority, Office of Homeland Secretary, the state Fusion Center, state Office of Emergency Management, the West Virginia National Guard and other agencies.
Sandy said it’s an opportunity he can’t pass up.
“Governor-elect Justice and his team made it clear that they wanted to appoint someone for DMAPS that had international and domestic public safety experience; and in addition, had experience in private business. When the Governor-elect called me, and asked me to be his Secretary for DMAPS, it was an honor and an opportunity to give back to the state that I love. I assure the people of West Virginia that I will do everything in my power to keep West Virginians safe from foreign and domestic threats to our way of life,” Sandy said.
Sandy earned more than 100 awards during his time as an investigator in the U.S. Department of Treasury.
He replaces Joe Thornton who has served as cabinet secretary since June 2010.