Gov. Patrick Morrisey has announced sweeping changes to the leadership of several key West Virginia agencies, including a major shakeup at the Department of Homeland Security.
In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, Morrisey named his senior advisor Douglas Buffington II as the new acting cabinet secretary for the Department of Homeland Security.
Buffington, who previously served as Morrisey’s chief deputy attorney general and a Department of Revenue official, has been working closely on homeland security matters since January. He will continue to serve as Morrisey’s senior advisor in addition to this new role.
Buffington takes over from Rob Cunningham, who had served as interim secretary since October after former Secretary Mark Sorsaia stepped down to become a circuit judge.
New Leadership at Homeland Security and Fusion Center
James Canaday will join Buffington as deputy secretary. Canaday brings extensive law enforcement experience, having served as a Raleigh County Sheriff and currently working as the State Law Enforcement Liaison for the Governor’s Highway Safety Program.
Meanwhile, Robert Workman will become the new director of the West Virginia Fusion Center, a critical hub for sharing intelligence among local, state, and federal agencies.
Workman is the Chief Investigator for the West Virginia State Police and works closely with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. He replaces Jack Luikart, who had led the Fusion Center since 2020.
Corrections and Parkways Authority See Changes
Del. David Kelly, R-Tyler, has been tapped to lead the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation. A former sheriff and deputy sheriff, Kelly also served as Tyler County commissioner before joining the House of Delegates in 2018.
As a legislator, he co-chaired the Jails and Prisons Committee and served as a deputy speaker. He replaces William Marshall, who recently became director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
At the West Virginia Parkways Authority, which oversees the 88-mile Turnpike from Princeton to Charleston, Dwayne “Chuck” Smith has been appointed executive director. Smith previously managed facilities planning for Kanawha County Schools and led Quatro Inc. He replaces interim director Parrish French.
Appointments to Health Care Authority
Morrisey also made several appointments to the West Virginia Health Care Authority. Heather Glasko-Tully, a former Republican delegate from Nicholas County; Dr. Doug McKinney, a retired VA Medical Center urologist and former state GOP chairman; and attorney Robert Cheren, a former AG staffer, will all join the board.
Glasko-Tully was an advocate for eliminating the state’s certificate of need program during her time in the legislature. McKinney brings decades of medical experience, while Cheren is currently senior counsel at Empower Oversight Whistleblowers and Research, a group supporting government whistleblowers.
Judicial Commission Sees New Members
Morrisey also appointed three attorneys and three public members to the state Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission, which helps the governor select judicial candidates.
Among the attorney appointments is Michael Donnelly of Charles Town, COO and general counsel for Club for Growth, a conservative advocacy group that backed Morrisey’s campaign with more than $3 million in support. Donnelly also teaches law at Regent University.
Joining Donnelly are Tyler County Prosecutor D. Luke Furbee and Huntington attorney Marc Williams, the brother of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Steve Williams. Their appointments are set to expire in June 2031.
New Public Members Named
The three public members appointed are:
- Jason Huffman of Charleston, state director for Americans for Prosperity, another major supporter of Morrisey’s campaign.
- Jeff Lyon of Pipestem, a businessman and former Summers County GOP chair.
- Gwyneth Capehart of Winfield, a senior honors student at Marshall University studying to become an occupational therapist.
These appointments also run through June 30, 2031.
Governor Morrisey’s latest staff reshuffle signals a strong push to place trusted allies in critical positions as he begins his first term. These appointments not only shape the immediate future of several state agencies but also reflect the governor’s vision for reform and control across the state government.
