FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 24, 2025

Contact: Josie Harms

Gov. Rhoden Thanks Secretary Flute and Commissioner Gottumukkala

Algin Young to Serve as Secretary of Tribal Relations

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden thanked Department of Tribal Relations Secretary David Flute and Bureau of Information and Technology (BIT) Commissioner Madhu Gottumukkala for their service to the state of South Dakota and congratulated them on their new roles within the United States Department of Homeland Security.

“South Dakota is home to so many exceptional individuals. It has been my honor to serve alongside Secretary Flute and Commissioner Gottumukkala. They have played a key role in keeping South Dakota strong, safe, and free, and they will certainly be missed,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “Secretary Noem is making important strides to protect our nation, and I am confident that these two gentlemen will add tremendous value to her efforts.”

David Flute will serve as the Senior Tribal Advisor on Indian Affairs for the Department of Homeland Security.

“I want to thank both Former Governor Noem and Governor Rhoden for giving me this opportunity to serve our state as a member of their Cabinet. I also want to thank every single person in every state department that I met and worked with on issues important to our state, ‘nina wopida tanka,’ ‘thank you so much.’ This has been a great honor and great experience,” said David Flute. “I am extremely humbled and look forward to serving our country in this new role and am excited to work with Secretary Noem and the Trump Administration.”

Algin Young will assume the position of Secretary for the Department of Tribal Affairs, effective Friday. Young currently serves as the State’s Tribal Law Enforcement Liaison, a position to which he was appointed by Former Governor Noem in 2024. You can find a photo of Young here.

“Algin has been a fantastic addition to our team since coming to work for the Noem-Rhoden Administration last year,” continued Governor Rhoden. “He is well respected within our tribal communities, and he has the right experience and temperament to continue working with our tribes on law enforcement agreements.”

Algin Young’s has a 23-year career serving in law enforcement within Indian Country, with roles including Chief of Police for the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Police Officer, Special Agent (Criminal Investigator), Indian Highway Safety Director, Regional Agent in Charge within the Division of Drug Enforcement, and Associate Director of Field Operations. He also served in the United States Marines. Young graduated from the Indian Police Academy in Artesia, NM, and completed the Criminal Investigator Training Course in Glynco, GA.

“I am passionate about continuing to build relationships between the State of South Dakota and our tribal communities,” said Algin Young. “As Governor Rhoden so often says, we must focus on turning challenges into opportunities. I thank him for this opportunity to help make our nine Native American reservations strong, safe, and free.”

Algin Young is a devoted father to his five children and has been married to his wife, Monica, for 24 years.

Madhu Gottumukkala will serve as the Deputy Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

“Serving the people of South Dakota as State Chief Information Officer and Commissioner of BIT has been one of the greatest honors of my career. I’m deeply grateful to Governor Rhoden for his leadership and trust. As I step into this new role at the Department of Homeland Security, I carry with me the values of innovation, resilience, and service that define our state,” said Madhu Gottumukkala. “I look forward to continuing to protect and strengthen the nation’s digital and physical infrastructure at a time when it matters most.”

Gottumukkala will remain Commissioner of BIT until May 16. Interested applicants to lead BIT can apply here.

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