Matt Strickler

Matt Strickler

10th Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources
In office January 13, 2018 – September 27, 2021
Governor	Ralph Northam
Preceded by	Molly Joseph Ward
Succeeded by	Ann Jennings

Personal details
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Washington and Lee University College of William and Mary

Matt Strickler is the current Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks for the U.S. Department of the Interior. Previously her served as the Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources under Governor Ralph Northam.^[1]^[2]

Background

Strickler originally hails from Lexington.^[2] After receiving degrees in public policy and environmental studies from Washington and Lee University, he completed master's programs in public policy and marine science at the College of William and Mary,^[2] where he studied aquaculture and sustainable development at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.^[3] Strickler completed his studies at the College of William and Mary in 2007. He was selected that year as a Knauss Marine Policy Fellow through the Virginia Sea Grant Program.^[4]

Career

Strickler first met Ralph Northam in 2008, while working in Hampton Roads for Mark Warner's 2008 senatorial campaign.^[3] Northam then brought Strickler on as a legislative aid, upon being elected to the Virginia State Senate.^[1]^[2] Strickler oversaw Northam's offices in Richmond and Norfolk. In 2010, The Virginian-Pilot described Strickler as Northam's "only full-time staffer".^[3]

Strickler has also served as a senior policy adviser to the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources.^[1]^[2]

In 2010, Strickler co-founded Old Plantation Oyster Company LLC,^[5] an oyster farming company in Cape Charles, Northampton County on Virginia's Eastern Shore. His co-founder, Clark Mercer, served as Northam's Chief of Staff during Northam's lieutenant governorship, and continued to serve in a similar position under Northam's governorship.^[3] Strickler resigned in 2021 to join the Biden administration.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Gregory S. Schneider (December 14, 2017). "Northam names Democrat from Lynchburg as secretary of transportation". Washington Post. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Robert Zullo (December 14, 2017). "Northam announces Cabinet picks for Natural Resources, Agriculture and Forestry". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Scott Harper (December 23, 2010). "Second job, oyster farming, builds on his first love". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
^ David Malmquist (December 19, 2017). "Northam names W&M, VIMS alum as resource secretary". Williamsburg-Yorktown Daily. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
^ "Old Plantation Oyster Company". oldplantationoysters.com. Retrieved December 29, 2017.

Cabinet of Governor Ralph Northam (2018–2022)

Cabinet
Secretary of the Commonwealth	Kelly Thomasson (2018–2022)
Secretary of Administration	Keyanna Conner (2018–2021) Grindly Johnson (2021–2022)
Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry	Bettina Ring (2018–2022)
Secretary of Commerce and Trade	Esther Lee (2018) Brian Ball (2018–2022)
Secretary of Education	Atif Qarni (2018–2021) Fran Bradford (2021–2022)
Secretary of Finance	Aubrey Layne (2018–2021) Joe Flores (2021–2022)
Secretary of Health and Human Resources	Daniel Carey (2018–2021) Vanessa Walker Harris (2021–2022)
Secretary of Labor	Megan Healy (2021–2022)
Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources	Matt Strickler (2018–2021) Ann Jennings (2021–2022)
Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security	Brian Moran (2018–2022)
Secretary of Transportation	Shannon Valentine (2018–2022)
Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs	Carlos Hopkins (2018–2022)

Cabinet-level
Chief of Staff	Clark Mercer (2018–2022)
Deputy Chief of Staff	Suzette Denslow (2018–2022)
Counsel to the Governor	Rita Davis (2018–2021) Cynthia Bailey (2021–2022)
Chief Workforce Advisor to the Governor	Megan Healy (2018–2021)
Chief Diversity Officer	Janice Underwood (2019–2022)