Arkansas DFA names Brad Nye chief of staff

Jim Hudson, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, announced on 23 October 2026 that Brad Nye will become the department's Chief of Staff, according to a DFA notice. Nye replaces Alan McVey, who is retiring effective 31 October 2026.

“With years of experience in regulatory framework, legislative issues, and implementing large scale initiatives, Brad is a great fit for the Chief of Staff role”

Nye joined DFA in January 2026 and has led the Rural Health Transformation Program since then. Arkansas has already committed more than $209m in RHTP funding this year, and a further $800m is expected across the next four years. In the Chief of Staff role, Nye will guide DFA's operating divisions on matters ranging from operational plans to staffing and budgets, and he will coordinate closely with the Governor's Office and the General Assembly. He will keep leading the RHTP program while also serving as Chief of Staff.

Hudson also said Becca Caldwell is joining DFA to serve as Program Director for the RHTP program. Caldwell previously worked at the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, where she was the Commission's Director of Rural Services. In her new post she will oversee RHTP operations, handling the application process and the distribution of funds while coordinating with federal partners. Her supervisor will be Nye.

Hudson said Nye has experience in regulatory framework, legislative issues and implementing large-scale initiatives, and strong relationships across state and federal government and the private sector. He described Caldwell as a natural choice to co-lead RHTP, citing her relationships with stakeholders across rural Arkansas from her work at the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

Nye's earlier career included senior posts at the Arkansas Department of Human Services and in the Attorney General's Office. He earned a Political Science bachelor's degree from the University of Arkansas and later a J.D. from the University of Arkansas School of Law. Beyond state government, he ran a private law practice of his own and acted as Government Relations Director at a major healthcare company.

Nye said he was honoured to accept the role and to work with Hudson on the goal of first-class customer service. He said all Arkansans interact with DFA through its divisions, whether renewing vehicle tags, filing taxes or obtaining a driver's licence, and that the leadership team is continually improving the delivery and efficiency of those services.

Before taking charge of the Rural Services Division, Caldwell ran the Rural Community Grant Program and the County Fair Building Program at the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. She graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in International Relations and Political Science, and her career began in Constituent Services for U.S. Senator John Boozman.