RALEIGH, N.C. (News Release) — Governor-elect Josh Stein today announced seven members of his cabinet. Gabriel J. Esparza, Department of Administration Gabe Esparza has over 25 years of experience leading both public and private entities. He was previously the Associate Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration and has served as a Commissioner on the Civil Service Commission. He was Vice President of Global Business Development at American Express and a senior executive at an innovative tech start-up. He is currently a Trustee at Central Piedmont Community College. He is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Business School.  Esparza lives in Charlotte with his wife and two teenage children. He will be North Carolina’s first Latino cabinet member. “Gabe has a demonstrated ability to manage complicated organizations and get things done,” said Governor-elect Josh Stein. “I am looking forward to working with him to strengthen the backbone of state government and keep moving North Carolina forward.” Leslie Cooley Dismukes, Department of Adult Correction Leslie Cooley Dismukes is the Criminal Bureau Chief at the North Carolina Department of Justice. She previously served as Chief of the Criminal Division at the United State’s Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina and an Assistant District Attorney at the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office in Charlotte. Leslie is a graduate of Duke University School of Law and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She lives in Raleigh with her husband and daughter. “Leslie has been a key and trusted leader at the Department of Justice,” said Governor-elect Josh Stein. “She is an effective problem-solver, and I am excited that she’s agreed to continue her service to North Carolina.” D. Reid Wilson, Department of Environmental Quality D. Reid Wilson has served as Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources since 2021. He previously served as the Department’s Chief Deputy Secretary, as Executive Director of the Conservation Trust for North Carolina, as a public affairs consultant to national environmental groups, in leadership roles at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and as National Political Director of the Sierra Club. Wilson earned his undergraduate degree at Grinnell College in Iowa. He and his wife live in Raleigh and are the parents of two adult children. “Reid has done a tremendous job heading the Department of Natural and Cultural and Natural Resources,” said Governor-elect Josh Stein. “I am excited for him to continue his service to the state by keeping our air and water clean and making sure that the Department of Environmental Quality efficiently serves its customers and the people of our state.” Devdutta Sangvai, Department of Health and Human Services Devdutta Sangvai, MD, JD, MBA is professor of family medicine, pediatrics, and psychiatry at the Duke University School of Medicine. He recently served as president at Duke Regional Hospital and vice president for Population Health Management at Duke University Health System. Dr. Sangvai has served as president of the North Carolina Medical Society and has been a member of the North Carolina Medical Care Commission. He is currently president of the North Carolina Medical Board. Dr. Sangvai is a graduate of the Ohio State University and earned his M.D. at the Medical College of Ohio, his J.D. from North Carolina Central University, and M.B.A. from the Fuqua School of Business. Dr. Sangvai lives in Durham with his wife and two children, both studying at Duke. He will be North Carolina’s first Indian American cabinet member. “I am looking forward to Dev’s leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services,” said Governor-elect Josh Stein. “He is incredibly hard-working, knowledgeable about health care, and ready for the challenges of improving health and lowering health costs for people all across our state.” Pamela Cashwell, Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Pam Cashwell has served as secretary at the North Carolina Department of Administration since 2021. Cashwell previously served as Senior Policy Advisory and Chief Deputy Secretary for Professional Standards, Policy and Planning at the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, as Assistant Director at the North Carolina State Ethics Commission, and as a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division and the Office of Justice Programs at the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorneys Office in the Eastern District of Virginia. Hailing from the Coharie and Lumbee tribes of North Carolina, Cashwell is the first American Indian woman to head a cabinet department in North Carolina. Cashwell earned her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. She lives in Wake County with her husband and two sons. “Pam has a proven record as a strong manager and administrator,” said Governor-elect Josh Stein. “And like me, she loves North Carolina – and its parks, museums, zoo, and other attractions that make our state a great place to live and visit. She’s going to do great work at DNCR.” McKinley Wooten, Jr., Department of Revenue McKinley Wooten, Jr. is the Assistant Secretary for Tax Processing, Research & Equity at the North Carolina Department of Revenue. He has over 30 years of public service, including serving as a Civil Magistrate in Wake County, Inspector General at the North Carolina Department of Justice, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Administration, and Director and Deputy Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts. A native of Kinston, Wooten earned his undergraduate degree from Morehouse College and his law degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law. He is married to Laura H. Wooten, who served 30 years in North Carolina state government. They are parents of a young adult son and daughter. “McKinley is an experienced manager who knows the Department of Revenue inside and out,” said Governor-elect Josh Stein. “He is a dedicated public servant, and I look forward to his efficient service to North Carolina’s taxpayers.” Jocelyn Mitnaul Mallette, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Jocelyn Mitnaul Mallette is an attorney and Air Force veteran. A third-generation service member, Mallette served on active duty in the United States Air Force for ten years. She served as an intelligence officer and a prosecutor in the Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Following her military service, Mallette clerked for the Honorable Barbara A. Jackson of the North Carolina Supreme Court and was a partner at an international law firm. She is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and the University of North Carolina School of Law. Mallette currently serves on the North Carolina Real Estate Commission and as the Chair of the Advisory Board of the Southeast Raleigh YMCA. She is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and the Junior League of Raleigh. She lives in Raleigh with her husband and two children. “North Carolina is the most military and veteran-friendly state in the nation,” said Governor-elect Josh Stein. “Jocelyn has the experience and leadership skills to help DMVA do its level best to serve the men and women who are serving or have served our country.”