PAULSON CHACO

CHIEF OF STAFF

Paulson Chaco will serve as the Chief of Staff for the Navajo Nation Office of the President and Vice President for the Nez-Lizer Administration. Mr. Chaco previously served the Navajo Nation as the Executive Director for the Navajo Nation Division of Transportation. We are confident that Mr. Chaco will serve the Navajo People well.

DOREEN NANIBAA MCPAUL

ATTORNEY GENERAL

With 18 years of experience practicing Indian law, we are pleased to be bringing home one of our own, Doreen Nanibaa McPaul, whose hometown is Chinle. She is a graduate of Princeton University and earned her Juris Doctorate from ASU College of Law, where she also received a Certificate in Federal Indian Law and served as a staff writer for the ASU Law Journal.

After law school, Ms. McPaul clerked at the Arizona Court of Appeals, and then worked as a staff attorney for the Navajo Nation Judicial Branch, as an associate attorney at the Nordhaus Law Firm in Albuquerque, and as a visiting clinical law professor and Interim Director of the Indian Legal Clinic at ASU.

Since 2008, Ms. McPaul has worked as an in-house tribal government attorney for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, the Tohono O’odham Nation, and the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. In that capacity, Mrs. McPaul advised tribal departments, councils, leaders, boards, entities, etc. She is admitted to practice law in Arizona, New Mexico, the Navajo Nation, as well as before several other tribal and federal courts.

CHRISTOPHER BECENTI

TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND REGULATORY COMMISSION

DEANNAH NESWOOD-GISHEY

DIVISION OF SOCIAL SERVICES

We are pleased to welcome Deannah Neswood-Gishey to the Nez-Lizer Administration to serve as the Executive Director of the Navajo Nation Division of Social Services. 

Prior to her appointment, she served as the Program Manager for the Department of Self Reliance under the division and previously served as the director of Tribal Social Services with the Gila River Indian Community. Neswood-Gishey is a veteran of the U.S. Army and Arizona National Guard and was honorably discharged from both branches of military. 

Her appointment is a prime example of a Navajo Nation employee who worked hard and worked her way up in the Division of Social Services. She began working with the division as a social worker in 1993. 

JAMES DAVIS, JR

DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF

DR. JILL JIM

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Dr. Jill Jim, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation and fluent Navajo speaker, will be coming home to the Navajo Nation from Albuquerque, N.M. to serve as the Executive Director for the Navajo Nation Department of Health.

Dr. Jim has a Doctorate in Public Health, a Master’s Degree in Health Care Administration, a second Master’s in Public Health from the University of Utah. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Promotion and Community Health Education from Northern Arizona University.

Some of her work experience includes serving as a Health Care Analyst for HealthInsight in Albuquerque, N.M., consultant for Navajo Area Indian Health Service, and Epidemiologist for the Utah Department of Health.

JESSE DELMAR

DIVISION OF PUBLIC SAFETY

Jesse Delmar, fluent Navajo speaker, will continue building on the success that he and many others have worked hard for in the last several years, as the Executive Director of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety.

He is a recent appointee by President Donald Trump to serve on the “Commission on Native American Children.” He was recognized by the National Native American Law Enforcement Association to receive an award for “Director of the Year” by this association. He served as Vice-Chairman for the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) for many terms and served as President for the “Indian Country Intelligence Network” (ICIN) of Arizona for many terms. He served on the Executive Board of the Arizona Counterintelligence Information Center (ACTIC) in Arizona.

He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Academy. Delmar has a Bachelor’s Degree in Administration of Criminal Justice with a Minor in Psychology from Northern Arizona University. He previously served as the Chief of Police for the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and offers a vast knowledge and extensive public safety experience.

JT WILLIE

DIVISION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

JT Willie, a fluent Navajo speaker, will serve the Nez-Lizer Administration as the Executive Director for the Navajo Nation Division of Economic Development. Mr. Willie earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration in 2014 and Bachelors of Business Administration in 2008, from the University of New Mexico.

He has extensive marketing experiencing as the former Director of Marketing for the Navajo Arts and Crafts Enterprise and as the Director of Marketing for the Tséhootsooi Medical Center in Fort Defiance, Arizona. Mr. Willie is a young, enthusiastic person who will serve the division well.

TOM PLATERO

DIVISION OF GENERAL SERVICES

Tom Platero was confirmed as the Division Director for the Navajo Nation Division of General Services on March 26, 2021. Prior to his appointment, Platero served as the Executive Director of the Navajo Nation Office of Legislative Services from 2012 to 2020 and also previously served as the Division Director for the Navajo Nation Division of Transportation from 2004-2011. His professional experience also includes serving as the principal contract analyst for the Department of Workforce Development and the Asst. Department Manager for the Department of Head Start. Platero is tasked with overseeing the Telecommunications and Utilities Department, Department of Information Technology, Employee Housing Program, Facilities Maintenance Department, Insurance Services Department, Records Management Department, Air Transportation Department, Navajo Transit System, and Fleet Management Department.

SANTEE LEWIS

WASHINGTON OFFICE

We welcome back another one of our own, as Santee Lewis will take on the role as Executive Director of the Navajo Nation Washington Office. She has a Master of Business Administration and a Juris Doctorate from the University of New Mexico.

She has exceptional experience working with the federal government as the previous Deputy Superintendent for the Eastern Navajo Agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and as a Senior Advisor for the Federal Land Buy Back Program.

We are confident that Ms. Lewis will provide professional and expert knowledge and experience at the federal level to the Navajo Nation Washington Office for the benefit of the entire Navajo Nation.

DR. PEARL YELLOWMAN

DIVISION OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Dr. Pearl Yellowman will serve as the Executive Director of the Navajo Nation Division of Community Development. She resides in Tuba City and is the co-owner of Yellowman Maho & Associates – a Diné women owned research and evaluation consulting company.

Dr. Yellowman has 20 years of experience serving tribal communities in the areas of implementation, funding source requirements, supervision, data collection, trainings and compliance. In addition, her experience is supplemented with extensive education. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, a Master’s in Education, a second Master’s in Counseling and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Montana.

DR. PERPHELIA FOWLER

DIVISION OF HUMAN RESOURCES

Dr. Perphelia Fowler, a fluent Navajo speaker, will join the administration to serve as the Executive Director of the Navajo Nation Division of Human Resources. Dr. Fowler has extensive human resources expertise and serves as the Human Resources Director at Navajo Technical University in Crownpoint, N.M. She previously served in various human resources positions with the Red Mesa Unified School District and Diné College.

She earned a Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership for Change from Fielding Graduate University, in Santa Barbara, CA., Master’s Degree in Human Resources-Business Administration, and Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources-Business Administration.

VALINDA SHIRLEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Valinda C. Shirley was appointed to serve as the Executive Director of the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency, and confirmed by the 24th Navajo Nation Council on February 12, 2021. Valinda Shirley resides in Rock Point, Ariz., with her husband and children. She is Táchiinii and born for Tł’ízÍ łání. Her maternal grandfather is Bit'ahnii, and her paternal grandfather is Ta'neeszhahnii.

Prior to her appointment, she served as the Senior Remedial Project Manager for the Navajo Nation EPA Superfund Program, coordinating on-site environmental cleanup or remediation projects to ensure compliance with Navajo Nation and federal environmental laws, standards, and regulations, and requirements, including Diné Fundamental Law. Shirley earned a Bachelor's Degree in Biochemistry from the University of New Mexico and graduated as the valedictorian from Rock Point High School.

ROBERT K. BLACK, JR.

NAVAJO-HOPI LAND COMMISSION OFFICE

Robert K. Black, Jr., a fluent Navajo speaker and longtime resident of the Western Navajo Agency, will take on the task of Executive Director of the Navajo-Hopi Land Commission Office. He serves as the Governance Manager for the Shonto Community Governance/Chapter and offers 14 years of experience in working with Din People at the grassroots level.

Among his previous leadership roles includes serving as a County Supervisor for the Navajo County Board of Supervisors – District 1, former Executive Board Member for Diné Bi Ołta School Board Association, and the Secretary/ Treasurer for the Shonto Community Governance.

GARRET SILVERSMITH

DIVISION OF TRANSPORTATION

Garret Silversmith, a Navajo speaker, will continue building on the success that he and many others have worked hard for in the last several years, as the Executive Director of the Navajo Nation Division of Transportation. He has served in this role since 2016, and offers extensive knowledge in the Nation’s transportation priorities, goals, and plans.

He has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from New Mexico State University, and many years of engineering experience with private engineering firms and with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. We look forward to supporting Mr. Silversmith and the Division of Transportation in the years to come.

DR. RUDY R. SHEBALA

DIVISION OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Dr. Rudy R. Shebala will serve as the Executive Director of the Navajo Nation Division of Natural Resources. He has an extensive academic background, which includes a Master’s Degree and Ph.D. in Environmental Science from the University of Idaho, and a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science.

JAMES ZWIERLEIN

VETERANS ADMINISTRATION