Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources

Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources
Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia
Flag of Virginia
Incumbent Janet Vestal Kelly since July 8, 2024 (2024-07-08)
Style	Madam Secretary
Member of	Virginia Governor's Cabinet
Nominator	The governor
Appointer	The governor with advice and consent from the Senate and House
Term length	4 years
Inaugural holder	Otis L. Brown (as Secretary of Human Affairs)
Formation	April 8, 1972
Website	hhr.virginia.gov

The secretary of health and human resources is a member of the Virginia Governor's Cabinet. The office is currently held by Janet Vestal Kelly, who was confirmed in 2024 and serves under Governor Glenn Youngkin. ^[1]

Duties

The Secretary oversees all healthcare in Virginia and Virginia's system of social services. The following agencies report to the Secretary: ^[2]

• Virginia Assistive Technology Loan Authority
• Virginia Board for People With Disabilities
• Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services
• Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
• Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired
• Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
• Virginia Department of Health
• Virginia Department of Health Professions
• Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services
• Virginia Department of Social Services
• Virginia Office of Children's Services
• Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth

List of secretaries

Human Affairs (July 1, 1972–1976)

• Otis L. Brown (1972–1976)

Human Resources (1976–1988)

• Otis L. Brown (1976–1977)
• Jean L. Harris (1978–1982)
• Joseph L. Fisher (1982–1986)
• Eva S. Hardy (1986–1988)

Health and Human Resources (1988–present)

• Eva S. Hardy (1988–1990)
• Howard Cullum (1990–1993)
• Kay Coles James (1994–1996)
• Robert C. Metcalf (1996–1998)
• Claude Allen (1998–2001)
• Louis Rossiter (2001–2002)
• Jane Woods (2002–2006)
• Marilyn Tavenner (2006–2010)
• Bill Hazel (2010–2018)
• Daniel Carey (2018–2021)
• Vanessa Walker Harris (2021-2022)
• John Littel (2022-2024)
• Janet Vestal Kelly (2024-present)

References

1. Irby, Sarah (2024-06-24). "Governor Youngkin announces changes in senior leadership". WSET. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
2. "Agencies". www.hhr.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-11-08.

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