U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling today announced several newly Senate-confirmed senior agency leaders have officially joined the Department. The seven new agency heads were appointed by President Donald Trump to carry out the Administration’s mission of putting America First.
“I’m honored to welcome this team of passionate and hardworking Americans to the Department of Labor. Their expertise and experience will be critical in achieving our shared goal of putting American Workers First. President Trump has assembled a formidable team, and together, we will deliver real results for our workforce and make the American Dream attainable again,” said Secretary Chavez-DeRemer.
“Each of these talented leaders has a proven track record of tackling challenges, and I look forward to working with them to support and protect wage earners, job seekers, and retirees across the country. We are ready to hit the ground running to promote commonsense policies and administer vital programs on behalf of the American worker,” said Deputy Secretary Sonderling.
Employee Benefits Security Administration
Daniel Aronowitz was confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as assistant secretary of the Employee Benefits Security Administration. The former president and founder of Encore Fiduciary, formerly Euclid, Mr. Aronowitz has 35 years of experience in the professional liability industry as a coverage lawyer and underwriter and is a widely recognized fiduciary liability expert, thought leader, and advocate for sponsors of employee benefit plans. Before joining the Trump Administration, he was the author of The Fid Guru Blog, the Fiduciary Liability Insurance Handbook, the fiduciary liability insurance chapter of the Trustee Handbook published by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, and a co-author of the Professional Liability Underwriting Society’s Registered Professional Liability Underwriter training module on fiduciary insurance. He is a graduate of Ohio State University and Vanderbilt University School of Law and has achieved the RPLU+ designation from the Professional Liability Underwriting Society.
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Wayne Palmer was confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as the assistant secretary of the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Before his confirmation, Palmer served in the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs at the Department of Labor and previously as executive vice president of the Essential Minerals Association. He also served at the Department during the first Trump Administration as principal deputy assistant secretary for the Mine Safety and Health Administration, following roles as White House Senior Advisor and Chief of Staff to the Secretary. Palmer also has 13 years of experience on Capitol Hill, including as a Senate chief of staff and legislative director. He began his career as a presidential management fellow at the Department of Commerce. A native of Easton, PA, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Penn State. He also holds a master’s degree in government administration from the University of Pennsylvania.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
David Keeling was confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as the assistant secretary of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Before his confirmation, Keeling served as director of global transportation safety at Amazon and previously as vice president of global health and safety at UPS, where he led global safety and compliance initiatives over a 36-year career. Keeling is a longtime leader in the workplace safety community, having chaired the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Chamber Safety and OSHA Subcommittee and holding positions with the National Safety Council and American Society of Safety Professionals. He earned a degree in human resources leadership from Sullivan University.
Office of Disability Employment Policy
Julie Hocker was sworn in as assistant secretary for the Office of Disability Employment Policy after being appointed by President Trump. She leads the Office of Disability Employment Policy with a focus on expanding opportunity, strengthening accountability, and delivering results for workers with disabilities. A recognized leader in workforce development and disability policy, she previously served as U.S. Commissioner on Disabilities at HHS, where she launched national initiatives to improve employment outcomes and strengthen compliance. Before joining the Department of Labor, she was an executive in consulting, advancing disability and Medicaid reforms and advising on legislation to expand access to care and economic self-sufficiency. She has also served on the boards of the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation and St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Hocker holds an M.B.A. from UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School and a B.A. in economics and political science from St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
Office of the Chief Financial Officer
David Castillo was confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as the Department’s chief financial officer. Castillo most recently served as a financial advisor at Edward Jones Investments, where he worked for the last 18 years. Prior to joining the financial sector, he worked on several state and federal political campaigns, including former President Bush’s re-election campaign. He then held several prominent roles in the Administration, including as a deputy assistant secretary at the Department of Veterans Affairs and as a director at the Department of Homeland Security. Castillo graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and holds a master’s degree from Gonzaga University.
Office of the Solicitor
Jonathan Berry was confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as the Solicitor of Labor. Before his confirmation, Berry was the managing partner of Boyden Gray PLLC, where he litigated, counseled, spoke, and wrote on labor and employment law and the regulatory process. He previously served at the Department of Labor during the first Trump Administration as acting assistant secretary in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy and at the Department of Justice as counsel to the assistant attorney general in the Office of Legal Policy. Earlier in his career, Berry clerked for Associate Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. on the Supreme Court of the United States and for Judge Jerry E. Smith on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He also practiced law at Jones Day and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Yale College and a J.D. from Columbia University School of Law.
Wage and Hour Division
Andrew Rogers was confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as administrator of the Wage and Hour Division. Before his confirmation, Rogers served at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as acting general counsel and previously as chief counsel and chief of staff. He previously served at the Department of Labor during the first Trump Administration as senior policy advisor to the administrator of the Wage and Hour Division. Rogers practiced law in the private sector at Littler Mendelson, PC and Paul Hastings LLP. He began his legal career clerking for Chief Judge Harvey Bartle III of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He earned a B.A. from the University of Virginia with honors and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law.