Pence appoints cabinet members

Gov.-elect Mike Pence began filling out cabinet positions soon after the Nov. 6 election. Pence will take the reigns from two-term Gov. Mitch Daniels following a Jan. 14 inauguration ceremony at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis.


Jeff Espich, senior adviser for legislative affairs

Espich is an IU graduate and U.S. Army Veteran. He is a board member of the State Bank of Markle and former state representative from District 82. He served as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, State Budget Committee, House Commerce Committee and House Labor Committee and as speaker pro tempore. 

“Jeff Espich has a record of accomplishment and integrity from his years of leadership in the Indiana General Assembly,” Pence said in a press release. “His knowledge of the budget and the legislative process will make him an invaluable addition to our legislative team. We are humbled to have a man of his caliber join our administration.”


Chris Atkins, director of the Office of Management and Budget

Atkins is a graduate of Wabash College and the Maurer School of Law at IU. He worked as senior tax counsel at the Tax Foundation in Washington, D.C. He was general counsel and policy director for Daniels in the Indiana Office of Management and Budget and was policy director for Pence’s gubernatorial campaign.

“Chris’s expertise in fiscal policy and his background in Governor Daniels’ Office of Management and Budget will be invaluable to our administration,” Pence said in the release. “Chris will head up our efforts to expand the Daniels fiscal legacy by working with the General Assembly to pass honestly balanced budgets, maintain strong reserves, pay down our debt and reduce taxes.”


Mark Ahearn, general counsel
Ahearn is a graduate of the IU and Maurer School of Law at Indianapolis. He currently serves as chief legal counsel and deputy commissioner at the Indiana Department of Transportation. He previously served as legislative director and general counsel in Pence’s Congressional Office and worked for U.S. Senators Dan Coats and Dan Quayle.

“I have relied on Mark’s counsel in the past, and I’m pleased to have him join our senior staff,” Pence said in the release. “His legal expertise and institutional knowledge of state government will be significant assets as we move forward.”

— Claire Wiseman