Governor-Elect Josh Shapiro Appoints Experienced Deputy Chiefs of Staff as Administration Leadership Team Grows

Individuals with decades of government experience all across the Commonwealth are set to join Chief of Staff Dana Fritz’s leadership team

HARRISBURG, PA – Today, Governor-Elect Josh Shapiro announced the appointments of six Deputy Chiefs of Staff with a wealth of experience, talent, and a deep knowledge of the Commonwealth to the Shapiro Administration. These individuals will bring decades of experience – from state, local, and federal government work, to leadership in organized labor and issue advocacy organizations – to the table as they join the Shapiro Administration. The Deputy Chiefs of Staff will serve key roles in Governor-Elect Shapiro’s leadership team, and they will work directly with state agencies, stakeholders, government officials, and local communities all across Pennsylvania as they assist in advancing the Governor-Elect’s top priorities.

The six Deputy Chiefs of Staff who will be helping lead the Shapiro Administration’s efforts to grow our economy, improve our schools, and make our communities safer are: 

• Joseph Lee, Deputy Chief of Staff for Administration and Opportunity

• Lindsey Mauldin, Deputy Chief of Staff for Health and Human Services 

• Danielle Okai, Deputy Chief of Staff for Economic Development

• Michael Pipe, Deputy Chief of Staff for Public Safety

• Sam Robinson, Deputy Chief of Staff for Consumers and the Environment

• Tori Shriver, Deputy Chief of Staff for Education and Workforce Development 

These accomplished individuals are joining a historic Administration – one that will bring people together, represent our entire Commonwealth, and deliver results for all Pennsylvanians every day. With this growing, capable, hard-working leadership team, Governor-Elect Shapiro will be ready to get to work for the people of Pennsylvania on day one. 

“With these dynamic, smart, and capable public servants joining our team as Deputy Chiefs of Staff, our Administration will hit the ground running to streamline communication, operate nimbly, and get things done for Pennsylvanians,” said Governor-Elect Shapiro’s incoming Chief of Staff Dana Fritz. “Governor-Elect Shapiro and I are ready to get to work with this diverse and experienced group to build an economy that works for everyone, improve our schools to ensure our children receive a quality education, and make communities across the Commonwealth safer for our families.” 

Read more about these key appointments below: 

Joseph Lee, Deputy Chief of Staff for Administration and Opportunity

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Joseph Lee grew up in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and he is the current Acting Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of General Services – the first person of East Asian descent to be appointed as a Cabinet member in Pennsylvania. Previously, Lee served as Deputy Secretary for Administration at the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. Joseph began his career as an intelligence analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency where he supported the production of the President’s Daily Brief as a member of the President’s Analytic Support Staff. He then spent two years as a management consultant with North Highland. He holds a BA from Johns Hopkins University and an MPA from the University of Pennsylvania. 

Lindsey Mauldin, Deputy Chief of Staff for Health and Human Services 

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Lindsey Mauldin is a lifelong Pennsylvania resident from Carlisle, PA. Mauldin began her career with Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates – where she worked for almost a decade – helping to protect reproductive freedom and advance access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health. In 2018, Mauldin joined the Wolf Administration at the Department of Human Services where she served as the Director of the Office of Social Programs and the Executive Policy Director. She then joined the Department of Health, where she helped oversee the COVID Response Unit in partnership with the 10 local health departments in the Commonwealth. Lindsey holds a BA from Shippensburg University and an M.A. from Arcadia University. 

Danielle Okai, Deputy Chief of Staff for Economic Development

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Danielle Okai currently serves as Deputy Director of Public Engagement at the U.S Department of Commerce. Prior to this role, she served as Senior Associate Director in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel where she managed the office’s external stakeholder engagement efforts. Before joining the Biden-Harris Administration, Danielle was Chief of Staff to the Political Department on the Biden-Harris Campaign. Prior to her role on the campaign, Okai served in a variety of roles in Governor Tom Wolf’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and on his 2018 re-election campaign.  She has also worked as an educator, teaching K-4 Spanish in Camden, NJ and English as a Fulbright Teaching Assistant in Cartagena, Colombia. Originally from Connecticut, Okai is a graduate of Tufts University. 

Michael Pipe, Deputy Chief of Staff for Public Safety

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Michael Pipe has served on the Centre County Board of Commissioners since 2012, and as Chair since 2016, and public safety has been a top priority throughout his three terms as County Commissioner. During his time on the Board of Commissioners, Pipe oversaw the multi-stage upgrade of the countywide 9-1-1 radio emergency communications system, expanded the regional emergency services training site for first responders and emergency personnel, supported reforms resulting in a 50% reduction in returning citizens at the Centre County Correctional Facility, and championed funding for the County’s Central Booking Center, which supports local law enforcement. 

Pipe is an active member of both the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) and the National Association of Counties (NACo). In 2015, he was one of 25 leaders in county government from across the United States invited to participate in NACo’s County Leadership Institute. Commissioner Pipe is a graduate of Penn State University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. 

Sam Robinson, Deputy Chief of Staff for Consumers and the Environment

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Sam Robinson grew up in Philadelphia and has served in a variety of roles in the Wolf Administration – including as Deputy Chief of Staff for the four years of Governor Wolf’s second term. In this role, Robinson worked closely with Pennsylvania’s environmental and energy agencies, as well as with a number of administrative and regulatory agencies. Prior to joining the Wolf Administration, Robinson served as an Assistant City Solicitor with the City of Philadelphia Law Department. A proud Philadelphian, Robinson received his law degree from The College of William & Mary and his bachelor’s degree from Earlham College. 

Tori Shriver, Deputy Chief of Staff for Education and Workforce Development

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Tori Shriver is from Pittsburgh, PA. Shriver began working for the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters (then KML Carpenters) in 2017 as a Political Organizer and was promoted to Deputy Political Director and Pennsylvania State Director in October of 2017. In July of 2021, she was named Political Director for the entire Council, responsible for seven states. While working for the Carpenters Union, Shriver championed workers’ rights across the Commonwealth and advocated for strengthening laws to protect workers from misclassification and fraud. She also sits on the MWDBE Advisory Board for Allegheny County. Shriver graduated from University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown with a degree in Political Science in December of 2016.

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