A state agency and a department have new permanent leaders, Gov. Phil Scott announced on Thursday.
Denise Reilly-Hughes will serve as secretary of the Agency of Digital Services, and Jason Batchelder will take the helm of the Department of Environmental Conservation as commissioner.
Reilly-Hughes took over as interim secretary of the agency after Shawn Nailor retired in January 2023. Scott created the Agency of Digital Services through an executive order in January 2017, his first month as governor, to consolidate information technology functions across state government.
Reilly-Hughes played a key role as Vermont transitioned its workplace to the cloud, according to Scott’s announcement on Thursday. She has more than 20 years of experience in the private sector, and her background includes licensing contracts, technology strategy, customer success and executive leadership, according to the press release.
“Denise has been a valuable addition to our team, bringing expertise from both the private and public sectors,” Scott said in a statement. “I’m confident she will continue to excel as secretary and deliver for Vermonters.”
Reilly-Hughes said she looks forward to leading the agency “through the next phases of our state’s technology modernization journey and fostering deeper partnerships with fellow state leaders to drive better outcomes for Vermonters.”
Batchelder, the new commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation, will lead a staff of 300 people and oversee Vermont’s environmental regulations. The department is one of three within the Agency of Natural Resources, alongside the Fish & Wildlife Department and the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation.
He succeeds John Beling, who recently took a position as deputy secretary at the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, according to a spokesperson for the Department of Environmental Conservation.
Previously, Batchelder served as the colonel of the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Warden Service Division from 2014 until he retired in 2022.
“As a proven leader in state government, Jason will be a valuable asset in leading DEC,” Scott said. “As Vermont faces new and evolving environmental challenges, Jason will bring leadership and direction to the Department.”
In a written statement, Batchelder, a resident of Elmore, said he’s ready to “embark on this important journey of stewardship and sustainability. Together with the dedicated team at DEC, we will strive to protect and preserve Vermont’s natural beauty while embracing the opportunities for environmental innovation and progress that lie ahead.”
