Introduction
The Office of Regional Operations (ORO) is led by its Director and 10 Regional Administrators.
Debra Johnson
Deputy Assistant Secretary for External Affairs | Acting Director, Office of Regional Operations (ORO)
Debra Johnson is the deputy assistant secretary for external affairs and acting director for Office of Regional Operations (ORO) at HHS’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF). She joined the Biden Administration in February 2021 and is in charge of ACF’s stakeholder outreach, also serving as the political leadership over ACF’s Office of Regional Operations.
View full bio on Debra JohnsonLauren Walizer
Deputy Director, ORO
Lauren Walizer is the Deputy Director of the Office of Regional Operations. She first joined the Administration for Children and Families as a Senior Advisor in December 2020. Before joining ACF, she was a Senior Policy Analyst at the Center for Law and Social Policy, where she worked on federal higher education and workforce development policy, and provided technical assistance to states and colleges about strategies to develop supportive human services and education policies for adults in poverty who are seeking educational opportunities and family self-sufficiency.
View full bio on Lauren WalizerElaine Zimmerman
Regional Administrator, Region 1
Elaine Zimmerman is the Region I Administrator for the Administration of Children and Families, representing the six states of New England. Her agency oversees work in child support, child care, refugee resettlement, child welfare, TANF, youth homelessness and runways, family economic stability, early childhood development, as well as innovations, cross-sector work and entrepreneurial practices.
View full bio on Elaine ZimmermanAlfonso Nicholas
Regional Administrator, Region 2
Alfonso Nicholas is the regional administrator for the Administration and Families (ACF) in Region 2. The region includes New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and eight federally recognized Tribal Nations. In this capacity, he leads ACF's strategic initiatives and priorities to promote the economic well-being of children and families in the region.
View full bio on Alfonso NicholasChad Sawyer
Regional Administrator, Region 3
Chad Sawyer serves as the regional administrator (RA) for the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) in Region 3, which includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and seven federally recognized tribal nations.
View full bio on Chad SawyerJacqueline Mull
Regional Administrator, Region 4
Jacqueline “Jacque” Mull serves as the southeast (Region 4) regional administrator for the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) in Atlanta, Georgia representing Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
View full bio on Jacqueline MullAngela Green
Regional Administrator, Region 5
Angela Green serves as the regional administrator for the Administration for Children and Families’ Region 5. In this capacity, she oversees the high-priority human services initiatives of the agency, administrative leadership and support for ACF’s Chicago staff and human service emergency planning, preparedness and response.
View full bio on Angela GreenLaKesha Pope Jackson
Regional Administrator, Region 6
LaKesha Jackson has more than 20 years of experience working on behalf of youth and families in multiple systems of care. As the Region 6 regional administrator (RA), Jackson is responsible for leading ACF’s strategic initiatives and priorities in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
View full bio on LaKesha Pope JacksonBarbara Lacina
Regional Administrator, Region 7
Barbara Lacina is the regional administrator (RA) for the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF) in region 7 (Kansas City, Missouri) which includes the states of Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri, as well as nine federally recognized Tribal Nations.
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Nikki Hatch
Regional Administrator, Region 8
Nikki Hatch serves as the regional administrator (RA) for the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) for Region 8, which includes Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.
View full bio on Nikki HatchPete Weldy
Regional Administrator, Region 9
Pete Weldy joins the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) with extensive experience working to advance the welfare, health, and happiness of children and families across the country. As the Region 9 regional administrator (RA), Weldy is responsible for leading ACF’s strategic initiatives and priorities in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
View full bio on Pete WeldyJody Becker
Regional Administrator, Region 10
Jody Becker, MSW, PhD, is the Region 10 regional administrator for the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), headquartered in Seattle, WA. As the regional administrator, she serves the States of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington and 272 federally recognized Tribal Nations.
View full bio on Jody Becker