Governor McDonnell Announces Two Additional Senior-Level Appointments
- Matt Cobb to Serve as Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources; Rick Holcomb to Return as DMV Commissioner

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

January 20, 2010

Contact: Stacey Johnson
Phone: (804) 225-4260
E-mail: Stacey.Johnson@Governor.Virginia.Gov

RICHMOND- Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell announced two additional senior-level appointments today. He appointed Matt Cobb as Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources. Cobb most recently served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia, providing legal advice to the Virginia Department of Health. McDonnell also announced that Rick Holcomb would return as Commissioner for the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Holcomb was first appointed to this post in 1993.

Below are full biographies of today's appointees.

Further announcements regarding additional appointments in the McDonnell Administration will continue to be made in the weeks ahead.

Matthew M. Cobb

Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources

Matt Cobb has served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Attorney General since 2003 and has served with four Attorneys General. In his role, Matt has advised agencies of the Commonwealth on legal issues related to health care. Prior to joining the Office of the Attorney General, Matt worked for a small business law firm in Richmond.

While at the Office of the Attorney General, Matt has served with Governor-elect McDonnell's Regulatory Reform Task Force Health Care Working Group, on the Attorney General's legislative team and also as a clinical placement instructor for the University of Richmond's School of Law. He assisted the campaign as a volunteer leader for the Health Care Issue Working Group for Policy Advisory Team for McDonnell for Virginia. Matt is active in his church where he teaches Sunday school and is a member of Lead Virginia's Class of 2009.

Matt has a Juris Doctor from the Georgia State University College of Law and a Bachelor Degree from the University of Richmond with majors in Leadership Studies and History. Matt, his wife Victoria, and children Elizabeth and Timothy reside in Henrico County.

Richard D. Holcomb

Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner

Rick Holcomb was first appointed as Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Virginia Depart of the Motor Vehicles by then Governor George Allen in 1993 and was reappointed by Governor Gilmore. Under his leadership the DMV conducted its first transactions on the Internet. And he led a reformation of the agency putting a greater emphasis on customer service. In 2001 Rick was a recipient of the Commonwealth of Virginia Governor's Technology Award for Business Leadership. Rick left the DMV in 2001 to serve as general counsel of law and regulatory affairs for American Trucking Associations, Inc.

Before being appointed as Commissioner, Rick served as Chief of Staff to three United States Congressmen: Craig James, French Slaughter and John Linder. He also served as Deputy General Counsel for the Bush-Quayle 1992 committee and before that as legal counsel for the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Rick received his Bachelor of Arts from Hampden-Sydney College in 1976 and his Juris Doctor from the University of Richmond in 1979.

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