Two Williamson County Residents Selected to Serve in Governor Elect Bill Lee’s Cabinet

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Tennessee Governor-elect Bill Lee announced four appointments to his cabinet for departments including Commerce and Insurance, Financial Institutions, Safety and Homeland Security, and Tourist Development. 

“I am pleased these four talented individuals have agreed to join my cabinet and lead these important departments,” said Lee. “Their experience and institutional knowledge will be invaluable as we build long-term solutions for our state,” said in a release. 

Williamson County Sheriff Jeff Long has been appointed as the Commissioner of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security.

Jeff Long will serve as the Commissioner of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security. He was elected as the Sheriff of Williamson County in 2008. He has served in the criminal justice field for the past 44 years as an Assistant District Attorney for the 21st Judicial District, Special Agent in Charge with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Investigator for the 21st Judicial District, Arson Investigator with the Tennessee Fire Marshall’s Office, Captain with the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office and Federal Hospital Police Officer with the Veterans Administration Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. He is Past-President of the Tennessee Sheriffs’ Association, a current member of the National Sheriffs’ Association and current member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Other appointees announced on Monday include Julie McPeak – Department of Commerce and Insurance, Greg Gonzales – Department of Financial Institutions, and Mark Ezell – Department of Tourist Development. 

Earlier, it was announced that Dr. Charlie Hatcher will join his cabinet to serve as Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.

“Charlie brings tremendous perspective about our state’s rural resources and agricultural way of life,” said Lee. “What happens in rural Tennessee matters to all Tennesseans and Charlie has the experience to carry out the administration’s key priorities in agriculture and rural economic development.”

Since 2009, Dr. Hatcher has served as the State Veterinarian for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture where he protects the health and welfare of animals within the state, as well as promoting the marketability of animals and animal products.

Dr. Hatcher serves as the general managing partner of Hatcher Family Dairy which was established in 1831. In 2007, the Hatcher family began bottling their own milk and selling to customers in Middle Tennessee as Hatcher Dairy. It has become a successful agritourism venture in Williamson County. He also serves as general managing partner for Williamson County-based Rock-N-Roll Farms and Battle Mountain Farm. Dr. Hatcher is the practice owner of Rock-N-Country Veterinary Services in College Grove.

“I am honored that Governor-elect Lee has charged me with serving our state as the head of the Department of Agriculture,” said Dr. Hatcher. “Being a 10th generation farmer, I know that agriculture impacts all Tennesseans, and I will ensure that we have the best ag community in any state in the country.”

Dr. Hatcher received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and a B.S. in Animal Science from Middle Tennessee State University. He is a 10th generation farmer and a fifth generation Tennessee farmer who resides in College Grove with his wife of 40 years, Sharon. His son and daughter also live on their family farm with their respective families and also have careers in agriculture.