By Josh Moon
Alabama Political Reporter
Chris Blankenship and Hal Taylor are sticking around.
Blankenship, who was appointed the acting Commissioner of the Dept. of Agriculture, and Taylor, who was acting Secretary of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), had their acting tags removed by Governor Kay Ivey on Friday.
The pair will be the permanent heads of those departments going forward.
“Since I appointed (Blankenship and Taylor), both men have proven beyond any doubt their abilities to effectively lead their respective agencies,” Ivey said. “I am proud to appoint both men to serve permanently in their particular roles.”
Blankenship most recently served as the Deputy Commissioner and as Director of DCNR Marine Resources Division from 2011 to 2017. He has worked at the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources since 1994, when he was hired as a Conservation Enforcement Officer.
Taylor most recently served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for the State Bureau of Investigations and ALEA Chief of Staff beginning in 2014. Prior to that, Taylor worked for the ABC Board going back to 1992. There he held multiple positions, including executive security and Assistant Director of the Enforcement Division.
“Alabama’s law enforcement efforts must be handled with precision and integrity; Taylor’s leadership ensures that happens,” Ivey said. “Hal is ably leading the men and women who serve our state as part of (ALEA), and I am thankful for his continued efforts.”
The men were sworn in during private ceremonies on Friday.
