South Dakota Governor Rounds names new chief of staff

PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Mike Rounds announced today that he has chosen Tom Dravland to be chief of staff to the Governor.

Dravland currently is Secretary of the Department of Public Safety, and he will continue those duties while also acting as the Governor’s chief of staff. He replaces Neil Fulton, who has accepted the position of federal public defender for South Dakota and North Dakota.

Dravland, who became a state trooper in 1975 and rose to the rank of colonel, was superintendent of the South Dakota Highway Patrol from 2000-2003. Gov. Rounds created DPS in 2003 and selected Dravland as its first Secretary.

"Tom Dravland is extremely qualified to be my chief of staff,” the Governor said. “His handling of the Department of Public Safety has been exemplary, and his prior service as head of the South Dakota Highway Patrol provided a wealth of experience in managing people and dealing with numerous issues that surface in state government. I'm pleased that Tom has agreed to take on this extra responsibility."

Dravland begins his new duties immediately.

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