Governor Stitt's Chief Advisors

Blayne Arthur currently serves as the Chief Agricultural Advisor. Arthur is the state's first female to hold the position. She acts as Governor Stitt's chief advisor on policy development and implementation related to agriculture, food and forestry.

Deborah Moorad serves as the Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce. She brings years of experience in entrepreneurship, corporate leadership, and economic development to the state. As the founding CEO and owner of Jax XII Holdings, she helps innovators and companies scale through technology. 

Daniel Hamlin is Presidential Professor in education policy and Faculty Director of the Oklahoma Center for Education Policy (OCEP) at the University of Oklahoma. He is the founding director of OCEP, Editor-in-Chief of the Oklahoma Education Journal, and Research Affiliate at the Program on Education Policy and Governance at Harvard University. 

Jeff Starling serves on Governor Stitt’s cabinet as Oklahoma’s Secretary of Energy and Environment. Jeff brings over 20 years of experience as a practicing lawyer and private-sector energy executive to his current role as the Governor’s chief advisor on national and state policies and practices related to energy and environmental matters.

Bullard previously served on the Oklahoma Medical Board, following his 2019 appointment by Governor Stitt, and from 2021–2023, he was a consulting advisor to the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority’s Director and Executive team.

John Nash currently serves as Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Military. In this position, Nash is an expert who is a champion for our men and women in uniform and the veterans across our state.

A seasoned entrepreneur and executive, Ostrowe brings a business-first approach to government — focusing on accountability, performance, and results. He leads the state’s cabinet and oversees operations and strategy to ensure agencies run efficiently and deliver measurable value to Oklahomans. A U.S. Navy veteran, he applies the same discipline and focus that guided his service to driving excellence in state operations.

Tricia Everest, a native of Oklahoma City and 4th generation Oklahoman, attended Casady High School before receiving her Bachelor of Science from Vanderbilt University. Tricia started her legal career as a legal assistant at Crowe and Dunlevy splitting some of her time working with Oklahoma Lawyers for Children. She went on to earn her Juris Doctor from University of Oklahoma School of Law. After graduation she served the State as an assistant attorney general. In 2010, Tricia left the Attorney General’s office to help build public/private partnerships to help people find hope and purpose by creating pathways for stronger lives. Tricia was the founding Chair of ReMerge, which diverts mothers from prison and empowers the women to build healthy foundations for themselves and their children. She plays an integral role as the founding Chair of Palomar, which removes barriers for abuse victims to access the services they need. Her other philanthropic endeavors include Chair of Allied Arts, past-Chair of YMCA - the organization’s first female chair in its 128-year history - and service on numerous nonprofit boards and commissions. Amongst a number of recognitions, Tricia received the Lee Allen Smith Oklahoma Legacy Award in 2013. OCBA presented her with the President’s Professional Award in 2017. In 2019, she was inducted into the OCU Meinders Hall of Honor for Business and Commerce. Tricia received the State’s Highest Honor in 2019 with her induction into the Oklahoma Hall Of Fame. Tricia received the 2020 Volunteer of the Year from the Department of Justice for her work with crime victims. In 2023, inducted into the Order of the Owl, University of Oklahoma College of Law’s highest honor. She also holds an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities from Oklahoma City University. Tricia currently is the Cabinet Secretary of Public Safety for the State of Oklahoma.

Donelle Harder is the Chief of Staff to the 28th Governor of Oklahoma. She brings over 15 years of leadership experience in public affairs, policy strategy, and governance, including senior-level roles in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. She currently serves as a director of Gateway First Bank, a national bank based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Prior to joining the Governor’s office, Harder successfully founded and scaled a strategic communications firm before its acquisition in 2022 by Pinkston, a national marketing and communications firm based in the Washington, DC metro area. There, she served as Senior Vice President, leading high-profile financial services accounts, delivering crisis management and board-level communications strategies, and becoming a top producer of new business before her departure.

Tim Gatz serves as the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. 

Beginning his agency career in 1990 as a drafting technician, Gatz has more than 30 years of service with ODOT. His dynamic transportation knowledge is rooted in his project management and program delivery experience, in addition to his time served as ODOT Deputy Director. Gatz has previously served in appointed roles as the Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation and the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority.

Marc Nuttle was named ad DOGE-OK senior advisior in February 2025. He is an economist, businessman, consultant and attorney based in Norman.

Dustin Hilliary is Co-CEO of Hilliary, where he helps lead the company’s growth strategy, financial planning, and strategic acquisitions. In addition to his telecom leadership, Dustin is co-publisher of The Southwest Ledger and guides Hilliary Media, owner of the Oklahoma Ag Network—one of the state’s largest farm and ranch radio networks. In 2023, Governor Stitt appointed him to the Oklahoma State Board of Regents for Higher Education. In September of 2025, he was named and now serves as Senior Advisor and Chief Negotiator.

Trae Rahill has responsibility for all Workforce Development operations in the State since joining Governor Stitt’s Cabinet in November 2025. He also serves as Chief Executive Officer of OESC where he oversees day-to-day operations and implements strategic modernization efforts statewide. Prior to his time at OESC, Rahill spent most of his career in operations leadership in the private sector. Trae is passionate about continuous improvement, sustainable private-public infrastructure, and collaborative service delivery. Evidence of these passions can be seen through his contributions leading various government task force committees and community organizations, including serving as past President of the Oklahoma Medical Group Management Association, current Board member of Leadership Oklahoma, and past Board Chair of the Oklahoma Messages Project.

John Budd serves as the CEO of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the Governor's Senior Advisor on Tourism, Wildlife, and Heritage. John has 30 years of private sector experience and also served as Oklahoma's first Chief Operating Officer.

Jeffrey Cartmell currently serves as the Director of Oklahoma Human Services. Before his appointment to lead the agency, Cartmell was the Executive Director of the Office of Juvenile Affairs. He has also served as Counsel to Secretary of State Brian Bingman and as a Senior Advisor to Governor Kevin Stitt, providing strategic legal, policy, and ethics counsel to the Governor, Secretary Bingman, and other senior-level administration officials.

Adria Berry has been the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority since August of 2021. She is a licensed attorney with a background in public policy, business, and teaching.