KELLY GARCIA, DIRECTOR OF THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, HAS RESIGNED AND WILL LEAVE THE AGENCY NEXT MONTH AFTER NEARLY SIX YEARS OF SERVICE.
GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS HAS APPOINTED LARRY JOHNSON, THE CURRENT DIRECTOR OF THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTIONS, APPEALS AND LICENSING (DIAL), TO SUCCEED GARCIA AT H-H-S.
GARCIA JOINED THE STATE IN NOVEMBER OF 2019 AFTER THE GOVERNOR APPOINTED HER TO LEAD THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.
THE FOLLOWING JUNE, SHE WAS APPOINTED INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH BEFORE ASSUMING LEADERSHIP OF BOTH AGENCIES AND, EVENTUALLY, ALIGNING THEM INTO ONE AT THE GOVERNOR’S DIRECTION.
THE AGENCY WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN MANAGING IOWA’S PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
DIRECTORS GARCIA AND JOHNSON WILL BEGIN A WEEKS-LONG TRANSITION PLAN WITH JOHNSON’S TENURE AS DIRECTOR OF H-H-S STARTING IN MID-OCTOBER.
AARON BAACK, DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER AT DIAL, WILL SERVE AS THE AGENCY’S INTERIM DIRECTOR.
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