CHARLESTON, W.Va. –
Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced the appointment of additional cabinet secretaries and key staff during his daily press conference on Jan. 28, 2025. The announcement included the appointment of U.S. Army General James (Jim) Seward, a decorated military veteran with extensive military, government and private sector experience, as West Virginia’s new Adjutant General.
“I’m very excited to announce three new Cabinet Secretaries who will bring vigor and energy to our administration. I can say that our Cabinet will wake up every day focusing on ways to improve West Virginia and serve our citizens,” said Morrisey. “The hires we’ve made in the Governor’s office bring a wealth of knowledge and experience that will help us run an effective and efficient administration.”
Adjutant General James “Jim” D. Seward:
Jim Seward is a brigadier general in the National Guard who served in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and on the border in Germany. A recipient of the Bronze Star and other military honors, Seward also served as an enlisted combat arms soldier in the U.S. Army. Seward served as director of the Veterans Justice Commission, which was launched in 2022 by the Council on Criminal Justice, a nonpartisan think tank and invitational membership organization. Earlier in his career, Seward held multiple roles in South Dakota state government. From 2010 to 2016, he served as General Counsel to South Dakoda Gov. Dennis Daugaard, managing more than 8,000 employees, supervising the state’s Department of Corrections, and leading government affairs at all levels. Seward is also a former elected district attorney (Butte County, SD) and member of South Dakota’s Law Enforcement Standards and Training Commission. His business sector experience includes serving as vice president of an energy company and representing clients in complex litigation in state and federal court.