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BobbyJindal News Feed

• Jindal Announces DOA Deputy & Veterans Undersecretary and Deputy Secretary
  BATON ROUGE – Today, Governor-Elect Bobby Jindal announced that Barbara Goodson will serve as the Deputy Commissioner of Administration under Angele Davis, and David C. Perkins will serve as the Undersecretary for the Department of Veterans Affairs along with Joey Strickland as the Deputy Secretary of the department under Lane Carson. Jindal appointed Angele Davis to serve as his Commissioner of Administration earlier this month. On the appointment of Barbara Goodson to serve as her Deputy Commissioner of Administration, Davis said, “Barbara has incredible insight and experience with the state’s financial issues and economic infrastructure. I know she has what it takes to hit the ground running and ensure that we never skip a beat as we begin to enact Governor-Elect Jindal’s priorities in office.” Of his Deputy and Undersecretary, incoming Veterans Secretary Lane Carson said, “I am honored to have Col. Strickland and David Perkins working along with me to help our 366,000 veterans and their families. Joey and David are career professional public employees who really know the veterans community and their needs.” Barbara Goodson, of Baton Rouge, will serve as the Deputy Commissioner of Administration under Commissioner Angele Davis. Goodson has served as the Assistant Commissioner of Management and Finance at the Division of Administration since 2005, overseeing state financial accounting issues, state payroll and human resources. At the department, she also currently serves as the primary contact for national rating agency information and public finance issues.  In addition, Goodson was appointed by the Commissioner to serve on the Firefighter’s Retirement Board, the State Police Retirement Board and the Deferred Compensation Board. She previously served as a State Economist at the Office of Planning and Budget within the Division of Administration from 2001 to 2005, overseeing the maintenance of multiple econometric models to determine tax revenues and receipts, and assisting the Commissioner in making presentations on Louisiana’s economic viability to legislative committees and national rating agencies.  From 1990 to 2001, Goodson served as the Assistant Director of the State Bond Commission at the Louisiana Department of Treasury, working as the primary analyst for non-traditional public trust, education and housing bond issues. From 1997 to 1998, she served as the Assistant State Treasurer and Chief Investment Officer at the department.  Goodson's legislative career includes serving as a Senior Fiscal Analyst in the Legislative Fiscal Office from 1989 to 1990, as Assistant to the Director in the Louisiana House of Representatives’ Legislative Services Office from 1988 to 1989, and as the Chief of Staff for the Office of the Speaker in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1984 to 1988.   Her legislative experience also includes serving as a Senior Researcher for the House Ways and Means Committee from 1981 to 1984, and as the Comptroller for the Louisiana Exposition Authority from 1981 to 1985. Goodson has a bachelor’s of science in economics and a master’s degree in public administration from LSU. David C. Perkins, of Baton Rouge, is currently serving as Undersecretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, managing personnel decisions involving more than 827 employees, and overseeing the Office of Management and Finance which is responsible for an annual operation budget of more than $45 million. Before serving as Undersecretary, Perkins served as the Assistant Secretary at the Department from May 2005 to June 2006, overseeing more than $51 million in veterans’ capital outlay projects, directing the operations of the War Veterans Home System, supervising Long Term Care Licensed Administrators, and supervising the state approval of federal GI Bill payments to veterans. From June 1998 to April 2005, Perkins served as the Acting Executive Director of the Veterans Affairs Department, attending meetings and conferences on behalf of the Governor, directing public relations, drafting legislation and administrative rules, and administering a $12 million budget. Perkins previously served as the Deputy Director of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs from March 1987 to March 1998, a Veterans Assistance Training and Information Officer at the Department from July 1985 to February 1987, and a Veterans Assistance Counselor and Supervisor for the Department from April 1980 to June 1985.  Perkins served in the U.S. Army from 1972 to 1974 as a medical specialist in the Redstone Arsenal. He is a member of the American Legion, AMVETS, and a life member of the Disabled American Veterans. He has a bachelor’s of science from Southern University in New Orleans, and is LSU-certified in the Public Manager Program (CPTP).  Joey Strickland, of Walker, is currently serving as the Deputy Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, overseeing the daily operations of the Department, working to ensure the state’s 366,000 veterans receive all federal and state benefits they are qualified for and that the Department delivers quality service to elderly and disabled veterans in the War Veterans Homes. Strickland previously served as the Executive Director of the Department from June 1998 to August 2004, successfully working to obtain state and legislative approval and funding for three additional war veterans homes and two state veterans cemeteries.  Strickland has also previously served as the Director of the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs from January 1996 to August 2004, and the Executive Director of the Louisiana Troops to Teachers Program from July 1995 to June 1998, working with the Department of Education and the military to recruit retired military personnel with education degrees to be teachers in Louisiana. Strickland served as an Academic Counselor at Istrouma High School in Baton Rouge from 1994 to 1995.  From 1966 to September 1994, Strickland served as an Officer in the U.S. Army. He served more than 28 years as a combat arms officer for the Airborne Infantry and Armor assignments, and served two combat tours in Vietnam. In 2003, he was inducted into the Louisiana Military Hall of Honor. Strickland has a bachelor’s in political science from Hampton University in Virginia, a master’s degree in counselor education-psychology from Auburn University in Alabama, and a certificate in aero space studies from Maxwell Air Force Base’s Air Force Command and General Staff College (the equivalent of a master’s degree).
• Governor-Elect Bobby Jindal Announces Mark Cooper as Director of GOHSEP
  BATON ROUGE – Today, Governor-Elect Bobby Jindal announced that Mark Cooper, currently the Deputy Fire Chief of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, will serve as the Director of the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP).  Mark Cooper, formerly of Bossier City, has served as the Deputy Fire Chief of the Los Angeles County Fire Department since 2003, working as the department's emergency coordinator and managing a one billion dollar budget, human resources for 4,200 personnel, and the department's emergency dispatch system. The Los Angeles County Fire Department is one of the largest in the nation and provides fire protection and lifeguard services to over three million residents, 165 fire stations, and 72 miles of coastline. Cooper contacted Jindal’s transition office to inquire about a possible role in the new Administration after reading the Wall Street Journal’s “Bayou Bobby: A new governor offers hope for disaffected Louisiana expats,” which highlights the hope of those Louisianians who have moved away from the stat