Address: State Capitol Bldg., 900 Court St. NE, Suite 254, Salem 97301
Duties and Responsibilities: The governor’s human services policy advisor focuses on maximizing the efficient delivery of services to support all Oregonians, particularly the most vulnerable. The human services policy advisor works with state agencies, community partners, client advocates, and legislative and judicial branch partners to ensure that state programs are designed to meet the needs of children, families, the elderly and disabled, and dovetail with the delivery of federal human services.
Housing and Homelessness
Address: State Capitol Bldg., 900 Court St. NE, Suite 254, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-378-6727
Contact: Taylor Smiley Wolfe, Housing and Homelessness Initiative Director
Duties and Responsibilities: As Oregon’s economy grows, more people need affordable, safe and stable homes that are right for themselves and their families. The governor’s housing policy advisor informs statewide policies and strategies across the housing continuum from homelessness to homeownership. The policy advisor works closely with a number of partner agencies, including Oregon Housing and Community Services, to shape agency budget requests and engage with local stakeholders working on growing opportunities for quality, attainable housing for all Oregonians.
Natural Resources and Climate
Address: State Capitol Bldg., 900 Court St. NE, Suite 254, Salem 97301
Contact: Geoffrey Huntington, Senior Natural Resources Advisor
Statutory Authority: ORS 173.610
Duties and Responsibilities: The governor’s natural resources team convenes regular meetings of state natural resource agencies to ensure that state policies are consistently applied across agencies. The office facilitates resolution of policy differences among state and federal agencies and stakeholders, and provides direction and coordination for agencies on regulatory, planning and environmental issues that span multiple agencies. Examples include coordination of species recovery efforts, water quality monitoring and enhancement, multipurpose water development and ocean conservation.
Public Safety and Oregon Military Department
Address: State Capitol Bldg., 900 Court St. NE, Suite 254, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-378-6829
Fax: 503-378-6872
Contact: Constantin Severe, Public Safety and Military Advisor
Duties and Responsibilities: The Public Safety and Oregon Military Department policy advisor works with the leadership of the Department of Corrections, Oregon State Police, Oregon Youth Authority, Oregon Criminal Justice Commission, Oregon Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision, Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, Oregon National Guard and the Office of Emergency Management. The advisor is responsible for processing emergency declarations, and acts as a liaison between agencies and the governor. Relationships with public safety stakeholders around the state are also critical to achieve the governor’s public safety goals.
Regional Solutions
Address: State Capitol Bldg., 900 Court St. NE, Suite 254, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-378-8636
Contact: Amelia Porterfield, Regional Solutions Director
Duties and Responsibilities: Regional Solutions is an innovative, collaborative approach to community and economic development in Oregon. Regional Solutions staff from five agencies and the governor’s office live and work in the communities they serve, making sure state agencies work together efficiently and collaborate with local partners from the public, private, philanthropic and academic sectors. The 11 Regional Solutions teams located across the state work with local leaders to identify priorities, solve problems and ensure projects are completed as efficiently as possible.
Resilience, Wildfire and Emergency Response
Address: State Capitol Bldg., 900 Court St. NE, Suite 254, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-373-1558
Contact: Jonna Papaefthimiou, Resilience Officer
Duties and Responsibilities: The State Resilience Officer (SRO) works with all three branches of government by coordinating Continuity of Operations Planning and Continuity of Government. The SRO is the policy advisor to the Oregon Seismic Safety Policy Advisory Commission, executes the long-term goals of the Oregon Resilience Plan, and provides policy to the state’s Interagency Hazard Mitigation Team. The SRO works with private sector and community organizations on resilience efforts that support other policy areas within the governor’s office.
Transportation and Infrastructure
Address: State Capitol Bldg., 900 Court St. NE, Suite 254, Salem 97301
Phone: 503-373-1558
Contact: Kelly Scannell Brooks
Duties and Responsibilities: The transportation policy advisor is focused on leading the governor’s efforts to develop sustainable, multimodal transportation systems that move Oregon’s people and cargo more efficiently. The advisor is also charged with implementation of the 2017 Transportation Package, an essential policy for growing Oregon’s economy.
Washington D.C. Office
Address: Hall of the States, Suite 134, Washington, D.C. 20001
Phone: 202-508-3847
Contact: Annie McColaugh, Washington, D.C., Director
Duties and Responsibilities: The governor’s Washington, D.C., office serves as liaison between state government, including the the Office of the Governor and state agencies, and federal government, including the U.S. Congress and the Oregon congressional delegation, the presidential administration and federal agencies. Federal decisions have an outsized impact on state affairs, and the office monitors and advocates on behalf of the state of Oregon. The office also serves as the state’s principal connection to many outside organizations, including the National Governors Association and the Western Governors’ Association.