ACF Announces Key Appointments to Advance Trump Administration Priorities

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced key political appointments to deliver on President Trump's and Secretary Kennedy’s priorities to make America great and healthy again. These individuals will advance ACF’s hallmark initiative, A Home for Every Child, while supporting collaboration with states, tribes and grantees to improve outcomes for children and families while strengthening program integrity. 

“Personnel is policy. To achieve A Home for Every Child, we have assembled a team of experts in their fields, with both frontline and state experience,” said ACF Assistant Secretary Alex J. Adams. “I am confident this ACF team will deliver lasting change and real results for America’s children and families.”

Cody Inman
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
Cody Inman was promoted to principal deputy assistant secretary at ACF, where he oversees agencywide programs advancing the well-being of children, youth and families. He also performs the duties of the commissioner of the Administration on Children, Youth and Families and implementation of A Home for Every Child.

Inman is an experienced leader in federal and state government, specializing in human services policy, grants management and technology modernization. He has held senior roles at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Oklahoma governor’s office and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. He earned a bachelor’s degree in pre-law, with minors in business management and history, from Oral Roberts University.

Martha Verno
Chief of Staff
Martha Verno was promoted to chief of staff at ACF, where she helps drive the agency’s strategic priorities and policy direction, while leading its communications, stakeholder engagement, and intergovernmental affairs efforts.

Verno brings expertise in policy advocacy and communications having previously been a senior director at Whiteboard Advisors, where she led the firm's children’s portfolio and advised leading business, associations, philanthropies, and nonprofits on early childhood, human services, and education issues. Verno holds a bachelor’s degree in cognitive science and international relations from Claremont McKenna College.

Fred Cooper
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy
Fred Cooper was promoted to deputy assistant secretary for policy, where he works to implement priorities in welfare reform and program integrity that deliver better results for America’s children and families.

Prior to ACF, Cooper worked to advance the conservative, America First agenda across industries and sectors, including fundraising and development, legislative office management, and polling and survey research. Originally from the great state of Ohio, Cooper holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Toledo.

Adam N. Jones
Deputy Chief of Staff
Adam N. Jones was promoted to deputy chief of staff at ACF, where he leads the agency’s de-regulatory efforts including the Zero-Based Regulation (ZBR) project, which seeks to eliminate obsolete and unnecessary regulatory and sub-regulatory burden.

Prior to his Federal service, Jones worked with Assistant Secretary Adams in Idaho at both the Idaho State Department of Health and Welfare and the Division of Financial Management. Jones holds a bachelor’s degree in political science with an emphasis in American Government and Public Policy from Boise State University.

Babs Hough
Senior Advisor to the Immediate Office of the Assistant Secretary
Babs Hough serves as a senior advisor to the Immediate Office of the Assistant Secretary.
Hough brings extensive experience in federal policy and legislative analysis, with a focus on strengthening families and improving health outcomes. 

She served as a legislative director and senior advisor in the U.S. House of Representatives and as a senior policy advisor at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Her background also includes research roles at The Heritage Foundation and Michigan State University, as well as consulting work supporting philanthropic initiatives. Hough holds a degree in public policy and political science from Michigan State University.

Jordan Hynes
Senior Advisor to the Immediate Office of the Assistant Secretary
Jordan Hynes serves as a senior advisor to the Immediate Office of the Assistant Secretary.

Most recently, Hynes was director of the Children and Families Program at the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, where she led policy work on family economic security, early care and education, foster care and adoption, juvenile justice and integrated human services systems. Prior to her role at NGA, she worked in the U.S. Senate on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Hynes holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies from Vassar College.

Virginia Allen
Senior Advisor to the Immediate Office of the Assistant Secretary
Virginia Allen serves as a senior advisor to the Immediate Office of the Assistant Secretary.

Allen brings extensive communications experience through her work as a senior news producer and podcast host for The Daily Signal. She has covered a wide range of public policy issues — from child welfare to national security — helping elevate discussions affecting families and communities in the United States and abroad. 

Before joining The Daily Signal, Allen served on The Heritage Foundation’s communications team and worked with the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute after spending a year working with vulnerable children in South Africa. Allen holds a bachelor’s degree in government from Regent University.

Kim Kovol
Principal Deputy Director, Administration for Native Americans
Kim Kovol serves as principal deputy director of the Administration for Native Americans, where she oversees efforts to promote economic development, language preservation and community self-sufficiency in Native communities.

Kovol previously served as commissioner of the Alaska Department of Family and Community Services, where she directed statewide programs including child welfare, elder care, juvenile justice and community services. Kovol earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and studies (K-8 education) from San Diego State University and a master of social work from the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Ryan Hanlon
Associate Commissioner, Children’s Bureau
Ryan Hanlon serves as associate commissioner of the Children’s Bureau, which partners with states and tribes to promote the safety, permanency and well-being of children and families.

Prior to joining ACF, Hanlon served as president and CEO of the National Council for Adoption and worked in state child welfare systems as a foster care caseworker and child protective services professional. Hanlon holds a Master of Arts in liberal studies from Georgetown University, a Master of Social Work from George Mason University, and a doctorate in social work.

Jessica Bonham
Special Assistant, Office of Early Childhood Development
Jessica Bonham serves as a Special Assistant in the Office of Early Childhood Development.

Bonham brings over 17 years of experience in education, including three years teaching overseas, and additional experience in state government as a legislative assistant in the Oregon legislature, where she supported policy research, constituent services, and legislative coordination. 

Her work focused on supporting children and families through education, strengthening early learning environments, and promoting access to resources that foster healthy development and school readiness. Bonham holds a specialist degree in administrative leadership and a master’s degree in health education.

Kim Parker
Associate Commissioner, Family and Youth Services Bureau
Kim Parker serves as associate commissioner of the Family and Youth Services Bureau, which administers grants supporting runaway and homeless youth and adolescent pregnancy prevention education.

Parker brings 25 years of experience in behavioral health, social services and trauma-informed practice. As a social worker and educator, she has worked across state systems and engaged faith-based and community partners to expand prevention-focused services and improve supports for vulnerable youth and families. Parker holds a Doctor of Education from Houston Christian University and a Master of Social Work from San Jose State University.

Adam Norman
Commissioner, Office of Child Support Enforcement
Adam Norman serves as commissioner of the Office of Child Support Enforcement, which oversees the national child support program to help state and tribal agencies develop, manage and operate programs in accordance with federal law.

Norman previously served as deputy director of the Child Support Bureau at the Indiana Department of Child Services, where he led modernization efforts for the state’s child support records and payment system, strengthening efficiency and accountability in program operations.

Norman holds a juris doctor from Indiana University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Indiana University.

David Swegle
Director, Office of Family Assistance
David Swegle serves as director of the Office of Family Assistance, which administers TANF, the Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood program and related initiatives in partnership with states, tribes and territories.

Swegle brings federal expertise supporting policies that promote work, marriage and self-sufficiency, and has worked closely with state-administered public assistance programs. Swegle holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Hillsdale College.

Lizbeth Casco White
Director, Office of Head Start
Lizbeth Casco White serves as director of the Office of Head Start, which administers Head Start and Early Head Start programs supporting early childhood education, health and family services nationwide.

White brings more than two decades of experience in early childhood policy, advocacy and public administration. She previously worked with the D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education and most recently served in senior leadership roles in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

White holds a juris doctor from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law and a Master of Arts in marriage and family counseling from Hope International University.

Alan Wilkett
Advisor on Human Trafficking
Alan Wilkett serves as an advisor on human trafficking for OTIP, bringing decades of state and local law enforcement experience to ACF.

As a corporal with the Pasco County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office, Wilkett worked closely with prosecutors, task forces, service providers and community partners to implement victim-centered responses and improve investigative practices at the state and local levels. His experience strengthens collaboration between OTIP, law enforcement and service systems nationwide.

Gage West
Advisor on Human Trafficking
Gage West joins ACF as an advisor on human trafficking for the Office on Trafficking in Persons and is the first-ever survivor appointed to a federal role focused on anti-trafficking efforts.

West’s lived experience informs his commitment to advancing survivor-centered policy, strengthening protections and ensuring that the voices of those most at risk are heard and prioritized. In his role, he will support ACF’s public health approach to prevention, strengthen partnerships and enhance services for individuals who have experienced trafficking.