Mikie Sherrill was sworn in as New Jersey's 57th governor at 12pm on Tuesday January 20, 2026 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. However she began setting up her government shortly after her resounding victory in November. To date, Sherrill has announced the overwhelming majority of her cabinet nominees along with principal level appointments of other government agencies and authorities. This edition of TrueNorth gets you up to speed on the Sherrill Cabinet as it begins to govern. We also do a deeper dive on Sherrill's unprecedented appointment of Kris Kolluri to lead multiple transportation organizations.
Governor Sherrill’s Cabinet Nominations by Department
Governor Mikie Sherrill continued the buildup of her fledgling administration with a far‑reaching series of Cabinet‑level appointments across virtually every major department in state government. In recent days, Sherrill has announced experienced leaders in health, environmental protection, transportation, economic development, education, public safety, veterans and military affairs, and more — assembling a team designed to meet her priorities of affordability, effectiveness, and accountability from Day One. Here's a recap.
Department of the Treasury
Aaron Binder — State Treasurer
Binder, currently Deputy State Treasurer, brings deep experience in budgeting, revenue analysis, and fiscal management, including years of service as the Assembly Budget Committee’s lead aide. He will oversee the state’s multibillion‑dollar financial systems, pension obligations, and tax administration.
David Cole — Chief Innovation Officer
Cole will continue serving as CIO to modernize state systems, improve digital services, and support the New Jersey Innovation Authority.
Department of Health
Dr. Raynard Washington — Commissioner of Health
A seasoned public‑health executive with experience in Mecklenburg County, Philadelphia, and federal public‑health research, Dr. Washington will lead statewide efforts to expand access, improve pricing transparency, and strengthen public‑health preparedness.
Department of Human Services
Dr. Stephen Cha — Commissioner of Human Services
Former HHS Counselor to Xavier Becerra, Dr. Cha has extensive Medicaid, maternal‑health, and crisis‑response expertise. He previously oversaw major federal agencies including FDA and NIH and will lead DHS through significant safety‑net and affordability challenges.
Department of Banking & Insurance
Susan Ochs — Commissioner of Banking & Insurance
Ochs brings senior experience at the U.S. Treasury, SEC, and nonprofit financial‑reform work. She will oversee health and auto‑insurance markets, PBM oversight, mortgage fairness, and statewide consumer‑protection enforcement.
Department of Environmental Protection
Ed Potosnak — Commissioner of Environmental Protection
Potosnak—an environmental leader, licensed contractor, and executive director of the League of Conservation Voters—will lead statewide flood‑resilience work, PFAS cleanup, brownfields remediation, and permitting reform aimed at cutting red tape while protecting natural resources.
Department of Education
Dr. Lily Laux — Commissioner of Education
Laux, a former Deputy Commissioner of the Texas Education Agency with nearly two decades of experience, will focus on improving literacy outcomes, mental‑health supports, pre‑K expansion, school‑funding stability, and high‑impact tutoring to close achievement gaps.
Department of Military Affairs
Brig. Gen. Yvonne L. Mays — Commissioner of Military Affairs
Mays will continue as Adjutant General, overseeing more than 8,400 Guard members and managing day‑to‑day Army and Air National Guard operations, now elevated within the newly restructured Military Affairs Department.
Department of Veterans Affairs
Vincent Solomeno III — Commissioner of Veterans Affairs
A U.S. Army veteran and current deputy commissioner, Solomeno will lead statewide veterans’ services, including long‑term‑care facilities, transitional housing, benefit programs, and cemeteries.
Department of Agriculture
Edward D. Wengryn — Secretary of Agriculture
Wengryn, with 25+ years of agricultural‑policy experience, will continue to lead farmland preservation, food‑security initiatives, school nutrition programs, and the Jersey Fresh brand.
Department of Corrections
Victoria L. Kuhn — Commissioner of Corrections
Kuhn, a 26‑year veteran of corrections leadership, will continue driving reentry programs, officer safety, and reforms aimed at reducing recidivism.
Department of Children and Families
Christine Norbut Beyer — Interim Commissioner
Beyer will remain in this role during the search for a permanent commissioner, ensuring continuity in child‑protection and foster‑care systems.
Economic Development Authority
Evan Weiss — CEO, NJ Economic Development Authority
Weiss, former Newark Alliance CEO and senior advisor managing more than $10B in federal stimulus funds, will lead statewide economic‑growth strategy, innovation investment, small‑business support, and affordability‑focused development initiatives.
Motor Vehicle Commission
Rosalie Johnson — Chief Administrator
Johnson previously modernized Colorado’s DMV with major wait‑time reductions and REAL ID implementation. She will spearhead customer‑service reforms, digital upgrades, road‑safety initiatives, and operational improvements at the MVC.
Office of Homeland Security & Preparedness
Tom Hauck — Director of Homeland Security
A Marine Corps veteran and former FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Hauck currently leads intelligence and operations at NJOHSP. He will oversee counterterrorism, cyber‑incident response, and preparations for major events including the World Cup and America’s 250th.
Office of the Attorney General
Jennifer Davenport — Attorney General
A veteran prosecutor and former First Assistant Attorney General, Davenport has earned broad bipartisan praise for her commitment to public safety, fairness, and strong working relationships with law enforcement and civil‑rights organizations.
Office of the State Comptroller
Shirley Emehelu — State Comptroller
Emehelu, with extensive federal and state legal‑oversight experience, will lead efforts to strengthen government accountability, audit performance, and safeguard taxpayer dollars.
Transportation Agencies
Priya Jain — Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Transportation
Kris Kolluri — CEO, NJ Transit & Executive Director, NJ Turnpike Authority
Sherrill has selected Kolluri to lead both NJ Transit and the Turnpike Authority, citing his decades of transportation leadership, project‑delivery expertise, and trusted relationships across agencies. His role will support coordinated planning, customer‑service improvements, and readiness for global events. Keep reading for a separate deep‑dive story focused on his appointment.
Higher Education Sector Leadership
Margo Chaly — Secretary of Higher Education
Chaly, current head of NJHESAA, has directed billions in financial‑aid resources and will now steer statewide higher‑education affordability, quality, and workforce alignment.
Infant and Maternal Health
Dr. Nicole Asare — Lead for Infant & Maternal Health Initiatives
Asare will oversee statewide efforts to improve maternal‑health outcomes, expand access to prenatal care, and reduce disparities.
Kris Kolluri to Lead Both NJ Transit and the Turnpike Authority: A Dual Role Tailor‑Made for a Proven Leader
(Photo: Kevin Sanders for the New Jersey Globe)
Governor Mikie Sherrill’s decision to appoint Kris Kolluri to lead both NJ TRANSIT and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) reflects confidence in a leader whose deep experience, steady judgment, and longstanding relationships across New Jersey’s transportation ecosystem make him uniquely suited for the task. While the dual role is unusual, it is not the structure itself that stands out — it’s Kris, and the trust he’s earned over decades of service.
A Dual Appointment That Fits the Moment
For years, New Jersey’s transportation agencies have collaborated closely, often relying on informal coordination among leaders to manage everything from emergency responses to everyday congestion. That coordination has always depended on the right people at the helm.
Kolluri embodies that model. His dual stewardship is less a shift in philosophy and more an affirmation that one highly experienced leader can guide both agencies effectively when he already commands respect across the system.
His compensation structure — a symbolic $1 salary for the Turnpike Authority role — further underscores that this is about alignment, not expanding bureaucracy.
A Career Built for Complex Infrastructure
Kolluri’s resume spans more than 20 years of transportation and infrastructure leadership:
- Senior roles at the New Jersey Department of Transportation, including serving as Commissioner
- Chairing the boards of NJ TRANSIT, NJ Turnpike Authority, and South Jersey Transportation Authority during earlier public service
- Leading the New Jersey Schools Development Authority, managing capital construction statewide
- Most recently, steering the Gateway Development Commission, where he oversaw the nation’s most consequential rail infrastructure program
Each role has strengthened his relationships across agencies, federal partners, engineering firms, and local communities — relationships that will matter far more in his new role than any organizational realignment.
A Strong Endorsement From Engineering Leadership
Engineering and infrastructure partners — the people charged with executing the work — have expressed deep confidence in Kolluri’s leadership. Joe Fiordaliso, President of the American Council of Engineering Companies of New Jersey (ACECNJ), offered this perspective:
What This Means for Commuters
For New Jerseyans, the benefits of Kolluri’s leadership will likely be felt in tangible, everyday ways:
- More cohesive coordination during emergencies and service disruptions
- Improved alignment of road, rail, and bus planning
- Smoother communication between the agencies that move millions of New Jerseyans
- Operational decisions made by someone who understands both systems from the inside out
This is not about restructuring the agencies — it’s about ensuring the right person is positioned to guide both.
Preparing for the 2026 World Cup
Kolluri has already highlighted the importance of unified leadership ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will put extraordinary demands on regional transportation.
Tens of thousands of spectators will depend on seamless movement between rail, highway, and transit hubs. By having one trusted executive oversee both NJ TRANSIT and NJTA, New Jersey is better positioned to manage everything from security coordination to high‑capacity crowd movement.
Looking Ahead: Pragmatic, Not Abstract, Leadership
The long‑range value of Kolluri’s appointment lies not in any sweeping structural reimagining of New Jersey’s transportation governance, but in his pragmatic, relationship‑driven leadership style.
New Jersey faces big infrastructure challenges — aging assets, evolving ridership patterns, climate resilience demands, and growing regional travel needs. Meeting those challenges requires someone who not only knows the system technically, but understands the personalities, politics, and partnerships that make it work.
Kolluri has shown repeatedly that he can deliver complex projects, build consensus, and keep critical initiatives on track. With him leading both NJ TRANSIT and the Turnpike Authority, New Jersey’s transportation network gains a leader who can move fluidly across agencies without the friction that often slows progress.
A Leader Whose Experience Makes the Model Work
Ultimately, this dual appointment works for one reason: Kris Kolluri is the right person to do it.
It is his depth of experience, longstanding relationships, and proven ability to steer large-scale infrastructure efforts — not the novelty of the arrangement — that make this structure effective. And as New Jersey prepares for major events, major investments, and major opportunities, his steady hand may be one of the most important assets the transportation sector has.