WASHINGTON, D.C. – NGA Chair Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, NGA Vice Chair Maryland Governor Wes Moore, and the Executive Committee of the National Governors Association today announced the appointment of Dr. Brandon Tatum as the Acting Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NGA, effective November 1, 2025.
Tatum most recently served as Senior Advisor for the NGA Chair’s Initiative, Reigniting the American Dream. He previously served as Chief of Staff to Governor Stitt and as CEO of the Regional University System of Oklahoma, where he oversaw six public universities, 42,000 students, and more than 8,000 employees. His career spans education, workforce, and policy innovation, with a focus on creating opportunity and strengthening state capacity.
“I am grateful for the confidence the Executive Committee has placed in me,” said Dr. Tatum. “Governors sit at the intersection of policy and impact where real results happen. Supporting their leadership and helping the NGA deliver practical solutions is an honor. My first order of business is a listening tour. I’m traveling the country to meet directly with governors to hear their priorities firsthand. NGA works best when each and every governor’s perspective is represented, and that is my top focus.”
As part of this transition, Fagan Harris will join the NGA as Senior Advisor. Harris previously served as Chief of Staff to Governor Moore and is recognized nationally for his strategic leadership and experience in government and nonprofit sectors.
“It’s important to have leaders in the NGA who have led governors’ offices,” said Gov. Moore. “A chief of staff to a governor may be one of the most complex and demanding roles in state government, and we are fortunate to have two seasoned leaders joining the organization who have served with success. It’s been a privilege to get to know Dr. Tatum—his mindset and leadership are exactly what the NGA needs in this moment.”
This leadership transition follows the retirement announcement of long-serving Executive Director Bill McBride. Governors expressed their gratitude for McBride’s years of dedication and steady service to the nation’s governors.
“Bill has been a tremendous steward of the NGA’s mission and an advocate for governors across the country,” said Gov. Stitt. “We are deeply grateful for his leadership and commitment. As we look to the future, Brandon brings a steady and calm leadership style matched with strategic thinking and innovation. This is a pivotal moment to reimagine the NGA and ensure it continues to serve governors in bold, forward-looking ways.”
The National Governors Association is the bipartisan organization of the nation’s governors, founded in 1908 to share best practices, coordinate policy, and strengthen the collective voice of states in shaping federal priorities. NGA has started the process to find the permanent executive director, and interested applicants may send their resume to executive search firm Heidrick and Struggles.
