Virginia Secretary of Commerce

The secretary of commerce and trade is a member of the Virginia Governor's Cabinet. The office is currently held by Carrie H. Chenery, appointed on January 12, 2026, serving under Governor Abigail Spanberger.

Duties

The Secretary is responsible for overseeing commerce, trade, and economic development in Virginia, and oversees the following state agencies:

• Virginia Economic Development Partnership
• Virginia Department of Energy
• Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
• Virginia Office of Broadband
• Virginia Housing
• Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation
• Virginia Tourism Corporation
• GO Virginia
• Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity
• Virginia Small Business Financing Authority
• Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission
• Fort Monroe

List of secretaries

Commerce and resources (July 1, 1972–1986)

• Maurice B. Rowe III (1972–1974)
• Earl J. Shiflet (1974–1978)
• Maurice B. Rowe III (1978–1982)
• Betty Jane Diener (1982–1986)

Economic development (1986–1993)

• Richard M. Bagley (1986–1988)
• Curry A. Roberts (1988–1990)
• Lawrence H. Framme III (1990–1992)
• Cate Magennis (1992–1993)

Commerce and trade (1993–present)

• Cate Magennis (1993–1994)
• Robert T. Skunda (1994–1997)
• Robert J. Stolle (1997–1998)
• Barry E. DuVal (1998–2001)
• Joshua N. Lief (2001–2002)
• Michael J. Schewel (2002–2006)
• Patrick Gottschalk (2006–2010)
• Jim Cheng (2010–2014)
• Maurice Jones (2014–2016)
• Todd Haymore (2016–2018)
• Esther Lee (2018)
• Brian Ball (2018–2022)
• Caren Merrick (2022–2025)
• Juan Pablo Segura (2025–2026)
• Carrie H. Chenery (2026-)

Former offices absorbed by the secretary of commerce

• Virginia Secretary of Technology (2018)

References