The Oregon Department of Aviation reports that Gov. Tina Kotek appointed drone expert Kenji Sugahara as the next agency director, effective May 1, subject to state Senate confirmation. Betty Stansbury, whom Gov. Kate Brown appointed as director in 2019, is retiring. Sugahara’s LinkedIn profile describes him as “The MacGyver of the Drone Industry.” A Salem resident, he serves on the State Aviation Board, was a commissioner at Travel Oregon and was the longtime executive director of the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association.

Kotek appointed Sherrone Blasi of Salem, David Cook and Katja Daoud of Portland, and Robby Azar of Oregon City as new members of the Oregon Medical Board. Gov. Brown in 2017 had appointed Blasi as director of the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs but Blasi subsequently withdrew.

After five years working in public affairs for the Oregon Department of Forestry, Jason Cox is now at NW Natural as a public information officer.

Soren Metzger is now tribal consultation and operations manager at the Oregon Department of Human Services.

Katie Wertheimer, who was communications director for Kotek’s gubernatorial campaign, has landed at Everytown for Gun Safety as press secretary.

Oregon’s former state elections director, Deborah Scroggin, is a U.S. delegate to observe parliamentary elections in southeastern Europe.

The senior staff for Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-6th District, includes:

• Rebecca Wright, district director. She was deputy campaign manager for gubernatorial candidate Christine Drazan and worked for the Oregon House Republicans when Drazan was caucus leader.

• Aaron Britt, communications director. He was press secretary for Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and previously communications director for Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, and the Republican Party of Iowa.

• Peyton Smith, scheduler/director of operations. She worked for Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas.

They join Jihun Han, who is chief of staff and was Chavez-DeRemer’s campaign manager, and Marcus Brubaker, a former congressional staffer who is deputy chief of staff/legislative director.