Attorney General-Elect Josh Shapiro Saturday announced a series of appointments to his executive staff as he prepares to be sworn in as Attorney General Tuesday.
Shapiro named the following persons to his executive team, a group that brings substantial experience in federal, state and local government and public safety:
-- Joe Radosevich, a former senior adviser to U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who successfully managed Shapiro’s campaign for Attorney General last year, will be Chief of Staff to the Attorney General.
-- Ken Topping, an attorney and executive with experience managing Homeland Security programs and a military background, will become Chief Operating Officer and Chief Diversity Officer – a new position.
-- David Wade, a policy expert who served in the Obama White House, will serve in a new position, Director of Policy & Planning.
-- Mike Vereb, a former Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, will be Director of Government Affairs.
-- Dana Fritz, the deputy manager of Shapiro’s winning campaign, will become Special Assistant to the Attorney General.
-- Joe Grace, an attorney and former chief spokesman for the City of Philadelphia and a suburban district attorney’s office, will be Director of Communications.
“I’m proud to announce my executive staff today, adding to the previous appointments we’ve made to key leadership roles in my administration,” Shapiro said. “This executive team has deep experience and the drive we need to serve the people’s priorities and ensure the health, rights and safety of all Pennsylvanians are protected every day.”
Radosevich, who served Senator Klobuchar as a senior adviser and special assistant, planning and executing the Senator’s public schedule across Minnesota, came to Pennsylvania in 2015 to direct the Montgomery County Democrats’ first-ever sweep of county row offices.
In 2016, Radosevich served as campaign manager of Shapiro for Pennsylvania, an effort that saw Shapiro earn more than 3 million votes statewide, outpacing all other candidates.
“Our executive staff brings with it significant experience in federal, state and local government, in law enforcement and public safety, and is bipartisan,” Radosevich said. “Our job is to ensure that the Office of Attorney General forgets no Pennsylvanian and that General Shapiro hears, and serves, every community across the Commonwealth, which is why our community-led transition took Josh to five public forums from Johnstown to North Philadelphia to hear the people’s priorities.”
Topping previously served as director and regional planning coordinator for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Regional Task Force, where he led the development and execution of Homeland Security programs.
Topping also served as consultant to the CEO of the Public Health Management Corporation, advising PHMC on an array of organizational and management issues. Topping is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point.
He will serve OAG as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Diversity Officer, a new position that Attorney General-Elect Shapiro is creating to fulfill a promise to make the office more diverse.
Wade is a policy and public affairs professional who has managed advocacy campaigns for corporate and nonprofit clients. From 2009 through 2011, Wade served in the Obama White House in a variety of policy and communications roles, including helping to vet potential nominees to the Supreme Court.
In 2016, Wade served as Senior Adviser and Issues Director of Shapiro for Pennsylvania. At OAG, Wade will take on the new position of Director of Policy and Planning.
Vereb is a former Republican member of the Pennsylvania House. Vereb served five terms representing Montgomery County’s 150th District, and formerly served as a police officer in West Conshohocken and in corporate security for the Comcast Corporation. Vereb will be OAG’s Director of Government Affairs.
Fritz served as deputy manager of Shapiro’s successful campaign for Attorney General, and also served on the bid committee that successfully secured the Democratic National Convention for Philadelphia last year. Fritz will serve as Special Assistant to the Attorney General.
Grace is an attorney and non-profit advocate who served previously as communications director for the City of Philadelphia, executive director of CeasefirePA, and vice president of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.
Grace also served as special assistant district attorney and spokesman for the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office. He will lead OAG’s communications office.
Shapiro’s appointments follow earlier ones, in which he appointed Michelle Henry as First Deputy Attorney General, the first woman to serve in that role in Pennsylvania history, and Eric Fillman as Chief Integrity Officer, a new position intended to make adherence to ethics and integrity top priorities of the Office. Shapiro has also appointed Executive Deputy Attorneys General to lead the Criminal, Civil and Public Protection divisions, and a senior agent in charge of all agents.
“With each series of appointments, we’re building the talented, diverse, bipartisan team that will work to protect Pennsylvanians’ rights,” Shapiro said. “Whether the criminal is on the street corner on in the board room, we need a team focused on safeguarding Pennsylvanians’ health and safety. I can’t wait to get started and work with the entire staff of the Office of Attorney General.”
