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enforcement training academy directors, among others,” Ms. Ecker
says. “Together, we improved the investigation and prosecution of
child sexual abuse cases. I believe the skills required to work with
such diverse groups of professionals and stakeholders serve me well
today.”
Director Ecker has been instrumental in the design, development,
and implementation of state and local criminal justice, prosecution,
law enforcement, child welfare, and domestic and sexual violence
grant programs in whatever capacity she has served. She says her
early career work in the New River Valley in southwest Virginia
provided her a unique perspective on the needs of women in rural
communities in the Commonwealth.
Katya Herndon
Chief Deputy Director, Department of Forensic Science
Katya Herndon has a rare combination of experience: legal
counsel, media and public relations, and knowledge of forensic
science. After earning her Juris Doctor degree from the T.C. Williams
School of Law at the University of Richmond, Ms. Herndon began
her legal career at the Supreme Court of Virginia, clerking first in the
Chief Staff Attorney’s Office and then for Senior Justice Richard H.
Poff. She then became an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for
Henrico County. She entered the field of forensic science when she
was hired as the Department of Forensic Science’s first in-house legal
counsel.
From 2006 to 2014, Ms. Herndon was the Director of Legislative
and Public Relations for the Office of the Executive Secretary of
the Supreme Court of Virginia. “During that period, I served on the
Forensic Science Board as the designee for the Executive Secretary,
which allowed me to keep abreast of changes at the Department of
Forensic Science,” Ms. Herndon notes. “ The nearly eight years I spent
representing the judiciary before the General Assembly provided me
with extensive legislative experience and a strong understanding of
howVirginia government operates.”
Linda Jackson
Director, Department of Forensic Science
Director Jackson began her career with the Department of
Forensic Science in 1995 as a Controlled Substances Examiner.
She has held several positions since then, culminating with her
appointment as director in 2014. In her role as Chemistry Program
Manager, she managed all technical aspects of the controlled
substances, toxicology and trace evidence disciplines. She currently
serves on the National Commission on Forensic Science and co-
chairs the subcommittee on Accreditation and Proficiency Testing.
She earned her master’s degree in chemistry from the University of
North Carolina—Charlotte in 1999.
“I have a unique combination of experience working on the
bench as a drug chemist and working on national committees that
recommend policies and practices in the field of forensic science.
This has provided me the foundation, and the necessary perspective,
to lead DFS forward as its director,” Ms. Jackson says.
Judy Napier
Commissioner, ABC Board of Commissioners
Ms. Napier brings experience in both the public and private
sectors to her role as an ABC Commissioner. Before her appointment
in 2014, she served as Director of Business Development for CGI, an
international information technology company, where her accounts
focused on state and local government. Between 2002 and 2009, she
served Governors MarkWarner and TimKaine as Deputy Secretary of
Technology and Assistant Secretary of Technology, respectively. She
also has served as Legislative Director for the State Homebuilders
Association.
“State government service has given me great joy in that you can
quickly see the results of your work,” Ms. Napier says. “The dual
perspective of the private versus public sectors is very valuable. It has
been very rewarding. “
Brook Pittinger
Deputy Executive Director, Department of Fire Programs
As the Department of Fire Programs’ first female Deputy
Executive Director, Ms. Pittinger oversees budgeting guidance,
strategic planning, validation of programs, and coordination of
policy in an agency with a $30 million budget that employs 74 office
personnel across seven division offices. She first joined DFP in
2005 as the Quality Assurance Chief, serving also as Government
Affairs Manager and Director of Administration before her current
appointment. Before coming to the Commonwealth, she worked
for Kings Dominion as their international program supervisor and
for Newport News Shipbuilding as a business analyst. She holds a
master’s degree in public administration fromVCU.
“I have a natural passion for public service, which has grown
over the years,” Ms. Pittinger says. “The most rewarding thing for
me is to play a small role in helping to train our fire services heroes
and make sure we meet the fire services community’s ever-changing
and demanding needs. The ultimate goal is to ensure that everyone
comes home!”
Angela Valentine
Deputy Director, Department of Juvenile Justice
Thirty-eight years ago, Ms. Valentine started working directly
with kids in trouble as a probation officer with the Henrico County
Court Services Unit. Since then, she has devoted her career to
helping wayward young people follow a better path. Through her
years with DJJ, she has developed and implemented numerous
initiatives, programs and juvenile justice reform procedures based on
progressive evidence-based research within the juvenile justice field.
On the national level, Ms. Valentine has worked with the Office of
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the Annie E. Casey
Foundation.
“Having spent my very rewarding career with one agency,
I believe my historical perspective on how DJJ has evolved as an
agency, plus the strong collaborative relationships with state and
national agencies I’ve developed over the years, serve me very well
in my current role,” Ms. Valentine says.
Tonya Vincent
Deputy Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security
Twenty-four years of law enforcement experience, both as a
police officer and in command positions, made Ms. Vincent an
ideal candidate to oversee the Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ Services
Council, the Department of Corrections, the Virginia State Police
and the Virginia Parole Board on behalf of Secretary Moran. Prior to
her appointment in 2014, she served in two key leadership roles for
the City of Richmond: Deputy Chief of Police with the Richmond
Police Department and Interim Director for the Department of Social
Services. Ms. Vincent’s career also includes serving 22 years with
the Arlington County Police Department, where she retired as a
captain. Her educational accomplishments validate her commitment
to continuous learning and development. She holds two master’s
degrees (Business Administration and Public Administration) from
Virginia Tech, and is currently enrolled in Virginia Tech’s Ph.D.
program.
“Throughout my career, I have always focused my efforts on
improving the lives of others,” says Ms. Vincent. “My leadership
style has enabled me to motivate, mentor, and empower employees
in order to achieve their goals and the mission of the agency. More
importantly, having the ability to cultivate strong relationships
with community groups from diverse socioeconomic, cultural
and ethnic backgrounds is essential to improving the lives of
your constituents.”
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