Allison Chris Myers: First Transgender Cabinet Member Appointed by President Murphy in New Jersey.

By Patrick Fitzgerald Last updated Dec 6, 2022

One of Gov.’s first cabinet members is leaving, and the first transgender cabinet member will take their place.

Murphy is likely to say today that Allison Chris Myers will take over temporarily for Deirdré Webster Cobb on January 1.

“I couldn’t think of a better person to replace Deirdré than Allison, who has worked for the government her whole life. She started out in the U.S. Navy and has been at the Civil Service Commission for over 20 years. I really appreciate everything Deirdré has done to help us over the past five years. Murphy told her, “I hope she has a happy and healthy retirement.” “As I’ve said many times before, it’s important that leadership in this state reflects the communities we serve. I’m looking forward to working with Allison to figure out how we can better serve our state’s workforce.”

Myers served in the military, and she is also an attorney who has worked for the Civil Service Commission for almost 22 years. After being in charge of the Division of Appeals and Regulatory Affairs, Myers has most recently been the department’s deputy chair and chief executive officer.

Thrilled to announce Allison Chris Myers as the Acting Chair and CEO of @NJCivilService. Allison began her career with the U.S. Navy and has served the Civil Service Commission for over 20 years.

Now, she will make history as the first transgender Cabinet Member in New Jersey. pic.twitter.com/eIFpKB58nZ

— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) December 5, 2022

“During my time at the CSC, I’ve helped many public-sector employers and employees deal with and solve problems related to the civil service system,” Myers said. “Our goal every day is to better serve the people of New Jersey by choosing and appointing public servants based on their knowledge, skills, and abilities and making sure that everyone has the same chances of getting a job at all levels of public service.”

Murphy hasn’t said if he will put Myers’s name forward for the job full-time. If he does, she will need State Sen. Michael Testa, Jr. (R-Vineland) to sign off on it because she lives in Cumberland County.

Since Thelma Parkinson Sharp held the job from 1959 to 1970, Myers will be the first woman from Cumberland County to lead the Civil Service Commission. Parkinson Sharp was also the first woman to be nominated by a major party for a statewide office. She ran for U.S. Senate as a Democrat in 1930, when she was 32 years old.

“The CSC will continue to work hard with labor and management to carry out Governor Murphy’s plan to make sure that the best public services are provided by a top-notch and diverse public workforce,” Myers promised.

Webster Cobb liked that Murphy chose Myers as her replacement in the short term.

“I’m sure that Allison will continue to build on what I’ve done to make sure that the civil service delivery system works well and efficiently for years to come,” she said.

Webster Cobb has worked for the state government for more than 30 years. He started as a Governor’s Fellow when Gov. Thomas Kean was in office, and he has held top positions at the old Department of Personnel and the Department of the Treasury.

Webster Cobb said, “I’m proud to have been the Chair/CEO of the Civil Service Commission for the past five years. I’m also very thankful to Governor Murphy for giving me the chance to help build a stronger New Jersey by making sure that the people who serve our residents have the tools they need to do their jobs well.”

“I am very proud of the CSC leadership team and employees for their unwavering commitment to CSC’s priorities of renewed responsiveness, expert problem solving, transparency and education, and removing barriers to raise the status and desirability of public service.”

The Civil Service Commission cabinet position, which has changed three times under the current State Constitution, has been held by some well-known people in the past, such as former Assembly Speaker S. Howard Woodson, former State Senators Lester Clee and William F. Kelly (the grandfather of Assemblywoman DeAnna Fuccio), and former Assemblyman Anthony “Skip” Cimino.

Rachel Levine was made an admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioners Corps by President Joe Biden last year. This made her one of the most powerful transgender people in the federal government. Levine also became the first transgender person to work in a governor’s cabinet when Pennsylvania Gov. Thomas Wolf named her as the state’s physician general and then as the Secretary of Health.

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Allison Chris Myers: First Transgender Cabinet Member Appointed by President Murphy in New Jersey.