Veteran government and political aide Lauren Curry has been named Gov. Brian Kemp’s chief of staff, becoming the first woman in Georgia’s 235-year history to hold that title.

Curry, currently the deputy chief of staff, assumes her new role on Jan. 15.

She succeeds Trey Kilpatrick who has accepted a job with Georgia Power as senior vice president of external affairs. 

The chief of staff is arguably the most important appointment a governor will make. The person in that role is responsible for managing the governor’s time, administration, team,  policy agenda, message and the unexpected, according to the National Governors Association.

Curry has held an array of government positions in Georgia since 2002. 

Prior to serving as deputy chief of staff, she was Kemp’s chief operating officer and director of governmental affairs and policy.

Before joining the Governor’s Office, she was deputy director of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division; chief of staff for the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency; director of public and governmental affairs at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources; special projects director at the Georgia Department of Economic Development; and press assistant to former Gov. Sonny Perdue.

Curry has a bachelor’s degree in government and business economics from Wofford College and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Georgia. 

Curry’s promotion was among several staff changes in Kemp’s senior staff team announced by the Governor’s Office Tuesday. Brad Bohannon, the current director of government affairs and policy, will replace Curry as deputy chief of staff.

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