Office of Gov. Dennis Daugaard

500 E. Capitol Ave.

Pierre, S.D. 57501

605-773-3212

www.sd.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Tuesday, October 15, 2014

CONTACT:  Tony Venhuizen or Kelsey Pritchard at 605-773-3212

Dusty Johnson To Leave Position As Governor’s Chief Of Staff

PIERRE, S.D. – Chief of Staff Dusty Johnson will leave state government next month, Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced today. 

Johnson, who has served as chief of staff since Gov. Daugaard took office in 2011, is leaving for an opportunity in the private sector. His last day will be Nov. 7, 2014. Nationally, only five current gubernatorial chiefs of staff have been in their positions longer than Johnson.

"Dusty is a good friend and has been one of my closest advisors,” said the Governor. “I’m grateful for his hard work these last four years."

Before joining the Daugaard administration, Johnson worked for two years as a policy advisor to Gov. Mike Rounds from 2003 to 2005. Johnson was elected to the Public Utilities Commission in 2004 and re-elected in 2010, serving six years on the commission. 

“Over the last four years, the Governor has given me an opportunity to work on the most important issues facing our state. I’ve learned more and had more fun than I thought possible,” said Johnson. “It’s been a privilege.”

Gov. Daugaard will not make any announcements about staffing decisions until after next month's general election.     

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