OLYMPIA—Governor-elect Bob Ferguson on December 6 announced three reappointments for state agency directors: Derek Sandison as Director of the Department of Agriculture, Cami Feek as Director of the Employment Security Department, and Major General Gent Welsh as the Adjutant General of the Washington Military Department.
“I am thankful for these individuals and their unwavering commitment to Washington state,” said Governor-elect Ferguson. “Their experience will help us move our state forward to better serve all Washingtonians.”
Derek Sandison
Derek I. Sandison was appointed Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Director in June 2015, where he continues to strengthen both Washington’s food and agriculture systems nationally and internationally. In the agriculture industry and beyond, he applies a solution-oriented approach to issues.
Along with serving as Director of WSDA, Derek currently serves as Second Vice President on the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Executive Board. He is also the immediate past president for the Western United States Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA).
A lifelong Washington resident, Sandison has worked in the private and public sectors for over 49 years. Before his appointment with the WSDA, he served as Director of the state’s Office of Columbia River (OCR) within the Department of Ecology between 2008 and 2015. During that time, he developed and laid the groundwork for the future development of new large-scale water projects for cities, farms, and fish. Prior to his service with OCR, he was the Central Regional Director for the Department of Ecology.
Sandison has a Master of Science in natural resource management and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in biological science, both from Central Washington University.
He is actively involved in his community serving as a mediator with the Thurston County Dispute Resolution Center, and on the board of directors for the South Puget Sound Community College Foundation and the Washington State Employees Credit Union. He resides in Olympia, WA.
Cami Feek
Cami Feek was appointed Commissioner for the Employment Security Department (ESD) by Gov. Jay Inslee in June 2021. Prior to that, she served as ESD’s acting commissioner, deputy commissioner and chief operating officer.
Prior to coming to ESD, Cami worked at the Department of Financial Institutions, General Administration (now the Department of Enterprise Services), the Washington State Patrol and the Attorney General’s Office under both Republican and Democratic attorneys general.
In addition to laying the groundwork for the successful launch of Paid Family and Medical Leave, Cami has led other major government transformation, such as creating rules for competitive contracting when civil service reform launched. Early in her career, she was instrumental in developing Washington state government’s first automated bid notification system, which is still in use today. Cami fosters diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and founded the first LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group at ESD. This resulted in the agency earning the Outstanding Agency Award from the Rainbow and Inclusion Network, the state’s LGBTQ+ and ally Business Resource Group.
Cami has a Bachelor of Arts in business and public administration from The Evergreen State College, where she also earned a four-year varsity letter in soccer. She lives in Tumwater with her husband and their two children.
Major General Gent Welsh, Jr.
Maj. Gen. Gent Welsh is the Adjutant General, Washington Military Department, at Camp Murray, Wash. He is responsible for the 8,000 soldiers and airmen of the Washington National Guard, serves as Homeland Security Advisor to the Governor, and is the director of the Washington Military Department which includes the state’s Emergency Management Division and the Washington Youth Challenge Academy.
Maj. Gen. Welsh began his military career by enlisting in the United States Air Force in 1988. He transferred to the Air National Guard in 1992 and was later commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1994. He has held a variety of positions in air support operations and combat communications units, including command positions at the squadron, group, and wing levels. He is an in-residence graduate of the Air War College at Maxwell AFB, and commanded the 242nd Combat Communications Squadron, the 252nd Combat Communications Group, and served as the Chief Information Officer and Joint Chief of Staff for the Washington Military Department. Prior to his current position, General Welsh served as the 194th Wing Commander before assuming the role of Assistant Adjutant General – Air, when he commanded the entire Washington Air National Guard.
Maj. Gen. has deployed on multiple occasions with the Washington Air National Guard in support of Operations Desert Shield, Southern Watch, Joint Forge and Iraqi Freedom. He first served as the Plans and Implementations Flight Commander for the 363rd Expeditionary Communications Squadron at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia from October 1999 to December 1999. He later served as the Contingency Plans Officer, HQ USAFE/A6 at Ramstein AB, Germany from January 2001 to February 2001. Maj. Gen. Welsh also served as the Chief of Network Systems and Contingency Communications, HQ – at Headquarters NATO Stabilization Force (SFOR), Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, from October 2003 to March 2004. He also served as the Commander of the 506th Expeditionary Communications Squadron at Kirkuk Regional Air Base/Forward Operating Base Warrior, Iraq, from May 2007 to September 2007.
SOURCE: Governor-elect Bob Ferguson
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
