Governor-elect Josh Stein Announces Cabinet Members

(RALEIGH) Governor-elect Josh Stein today announced six members of his cabinet. Information about each new member is below and headshots are attached.

Eddie M. Buffaloe, Jr., Department of Public Safety

Eddie Buffaloe has served as secretary of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety since 2021. He previously served as a law enforcement officer for 30 years, most recently in a dual role as Elizabeth City’s interim city manager and director of the Elizabeth City Department of Public Safety. He also has worked in a sheriff’s office, as a correctional officer, and as a law enforcement instructor. He was a member of the North Carolina National Guard for 10 years. He also served as President of the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police. Buffaloe has earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Mount Olive and a master’s degree from Grand Canyon University.

“Western North Carolina is at a critical moment,” said Governor-elect Josh Stein. “We need Eddie’s steady leadership as we work to rebuild after Hurricane Helene. I am grateful for Secretary Buffaloe’s commitment to seeing the job done.”

Joey Hopkins, Department of Transportation

Joey Hopkins has served as Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Transportation since 2023. He has worked at the Department of Transportation for more than 30 years, including as chief operating officer, deputy chief engineer, and division engineer. Hopkins is a graduate of North Carolina State University and lives in Garner with his wife and their two sons.

“The Department of Transportation has real work to do in western North Carolina,” said Governor-elect Josh Stein. “I am grateful to Secretary Hopkins for agreeing to stay in an interim role to help make sure we safely get people back on the road as quickly as possible.”

Lee Lilley, Department of Commerce

Lee Lilley has served Gov. Roy Cooper as Director of Economic and Pandemic Recovery and as Director of Legislative Affairs. Lee also advised a variety of corporate clients at an international public affairs firm and was legislative director for Rep. G.K. Butterfield. Lee is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is a native of Williamston, North Carolina, and lives in Raleigh with his wife and daughter. 

“Lee and I agree that North Carolina is the best place in the world to do business,” said Governor-elect Josh Stein. “I am looking forward to working closely with him to help North Carolina businesses succeed and to attract other businesses and good-paying jobs to our state.”

Staci Meyer, Office of State Human Resources

Staci Meyer is currently Chief Deputy Secretary at the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. She also has worked as a Special Deputy Attorney General at the North Carolina Department of Justice and a Commissioner and Chair of the North Carolina Industrial Commission. She earned her undergraduate degree from Clemson University and her law degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law. She lives in Wake County. 

“Staci knows firsthand that North Carolina state government is full of fulfilling jobs for public-spirited people,” said Governor-elect Josh Stein. “I look forward to working with Staci to ensure that my administration recruits and retains the best state employees possible to serve our people well.”

Teena Piccione, Department of Information Technology

Teena Piccione has worked at Google as the Managing Director for Cloud and Customer Engineering over Telecommunications, Media, Entertainment and Gaming, at RTI International as Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, at Fidelity Investments as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and at AT&T as Vice President and leader of the Big Data Center of Excellence. She and her husband have two daughters and live in Wake County.

“Making sure the state’s IT infrastructure is effective, efficient and secure is a top priority,” said Governor-elect Josh Stein. “I am excited that someone of Teena’s experience and talent is joining my administration to deliver IT excellence.”

Kristin Walker, Office of State Budget and Management

Kristin Walker has served as the State Budget Director of North Carolina since 2022, where she leads the Office of State Budget and Management. She has previously served as Chief Deputy Budget Director, Fiscal Analyst for the North Carolina General Assembly, and at the National Science Foundation, where she managed multi-million-dollar grant programs in the social and behavioral sciences. Walker earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and a master’s from the Sanford School at Duke University. She lives in Raleigh with her husband and two children.

“Kristin is a smart and creative leader,” said Governor-elect Josh Stein. “I am grateful that she will continue to work diligently on behalf of North Carolina’s state budget.”

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