Nevada’s top health official gets permanent post
Gov. Brian Sandoval appointed Richard Whitley on Monday as the director of the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services.
Whitley had served as interim director since February, when former director Romaine Gilliland decided to return to retirement.
“Richard has proven to be a steady and capable leader and I am pleased to make this appointment official,” Sandoval said in a statement Monday. “This announcement will ensure continuity in a system that impacts many Nevada families. I would like to thank Richard for accepting this role and look forward to continue working with him as a valuable member of my cabinet.”
Whitley started working for the state as the senior psychologist for the Nevada Women’s Correctional Facility in 1986. He later served as the administrator of the Division of Mental Health and Development Services, which merged into the Division of Public and Behavioral Health, a part of the department he now heads. A graduate of Willamette University, Whitley holds a Master’s degree in counseling psychology from Western Oregon University.
Whitley will manage more than 5,500 employees and a $4.5 billion budget.
Contact Yesenia Amaro at yamaro@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0440. Find her on Twitter: @YeseniaAmaro.
