INDIANAPOLIS -- After recently releasing his full "freedom and opportunity" agenda, Indiana Governor-elect Mike Braun began to name his cabinet secretaries for his upcoming term.
This comes after Braun announced in mid-November that he would implement a restructured cabinet model, centered around eight secretaries over various state departments. Those secretaries include:
- Secretary of Management and Budget
- Secretary of Commerce
- Secretary of Health and Family Services
- Secretary of Public Safety
- Secretary of Energy and Natural Resources
- Secretary of Education
- Secretary of Transportation and Infrastructure
- Secretary of Business Affairs
On Wednesday, Braun officially appointed two of those secretaries: the state's secretary of management and budget and the state's secretary of transportation and infrastructure.
Secretary of Management and Budget
Braun announced on Wednesday that Lisa Hershman was appointed as the state's secretary of management and budget. Hershman, who is originally from Lafayette, most recently served as the chief management officer for the U.S. Department of Defense.
According to a news release, Hershman served the department from 2018 to 2021, managing a $168 billion budget. Braun said that Hershman saved $37 billion through operational reforms while completing the department's first unified budget.
"Lisa Hershman's track record of driving efficiency and innovation in both government and business makes her the ideal choice to oversee Indiana's financial management," Braun said in the release. "Her experience transforming large organizations and delivering taxpayer savings will be invaluable to our state."
Hershman will serve as the chief financial officer of the state of Indiana and will oversee the state's budget, financial management and administrative operations.
“I sincerely appreciate the confidence Governor-elect Mike Braun has placed in me to serve as a steward of the state’s financial resources," Hershman said in the release. "Through collaboration with his team and the General Assembly, we will work to drive efficiency, accountability, and innovation in state government. Together, we will work to ensure that every taxpayer dollar is spent wisely and that Indiana remains a national model for fiscal responsibility and effective governance.”
Secretary of Transportation and Infrastructure
On Wednesday, Braun also announced that former state lawmaker Matthew Ubelhor was named as the state's secretary of transportation and infrastructure. Ubelhor served in the general assembly for three terms and represented Greene, Martin, Daviess and Monroe counties.
According to a news release from Braun's office, Ubelhor, who is originally from Bloomfield, most recently served as senior vice president of operations at White Stallion Energy. During his tenure in the Indiana Statehouse, Ubelhor served on the Ways and Means Committee, as well as majority whip.
"Matt's decades of experience managing complex operations and infrastructure, combined with
his service in the Indiana House, make him especially qualified to lead our transportation and
infrastructure initiatives," Braun said in the release. “He has a servant’s heart and understands
how to do more with less at a time when stewardship of tax dollars could not be more critical.”
In his role at White Stallion Energy, the release said that Ubelhor managed safety, production and cost control for 600 workers across multiple sites. Ubelhor also served in leadership positions at Peabody Energy.
“Fostering long-term prosperity for Hoosier families takes many forms, and I am excited to contribute to Gov.-elect Braun’s efforts to shape the future of our transportation infrastructure,” Ubelhor said in the release. “We have a tremendous opportunity ahead of us to connect Hoosiers in ways that will grow our economy and improve our quality of life.”
This story will be updated as Braun names more members of his cabinet.