Moore Announces Leadership Changes Across Five Maryland Cabinet Posts

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Gov. Wes Moore has announced leadership changes across five Maryland Cabinet posts since the Nov. 3 election, naming acting or interim leaders for the offices overseeing the environment, emergency management, public safety and corrections, veterans and military families, and the secretary of state.

Three transitions took effect Nov. 6. The two changes Moore announced Nov. 12 will take effect in December and January. Moore plans to submit the nominees for the environment and emergency management posts to the Maryland Senate for confirmation during the 2027 legislative session.

In the Nov. 6 announcement, Moore named Michael Lore interim secretary of state, succeeding Susan C. Lee, who left for personal reasons. David C. Greene became interim secretary of public safety and correctional services, succeeding Carolyn J. Scruggs. James “Jimmy” Anderson became acting secretary of veterans and military families, succeeding Edward C. Rothstein. All three had served as deputies in the offices they now lead.

The governor’s office said it would begin searches for permanent replacements for Lee and Scruggs. It did not announce a permanent nominee or a search timeline for the veterans and military families post.

Under the Nov. 12 announcement, Emergency Management Secretary Russell Strickland will retire Dec. 8. Earl Stoddard, an assistant chief administrative officer for Montgomery County and former director of its emergency management office, will take over as acting secretary Dec. 9.

Strickland has led Maryland’s emergency management agency since 2015 and became its first Cabinet secretary in 2022. During his tenure, the department coordinated the state’s emergency response to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse and supported recovery after flooding in Westernport in May 2025.

Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain will leave Dec. 31. Deputy Secretary Adam Ortiz, who previously led the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Mid-Atlantic region and headed environmental departments in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, will become acting secretary Jan. 1. Moore’s office said the Maryland Department of the Environment cleared a backlog of hundreds of permit applications during McIlwain’s tenure.

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Moore Announces Leadership Changes Across Five Maryland Cabinet Posts

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