New Comms Director Hired

Join us in welcoming Joe Thornton to CCM

A native West Virginian, Joe served 10 years in the United States Air Force, receiving an honorable discharge in August 1994. During his Air Force career, Joe was stationed in San Antonio, Texas; Minot, North Dakota and Pirinclik Air Station, Turkey: where he served in direct support of the nation’s first Gulf War efforts.

Joe is a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, WV where he completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and his Master’s Degree in Public Relations. Prior to his public service career, he worked for three years for the local NBC affiliate: WSAZ NewsChannel 3, Huntington/Charleston, WV.

Joe started his public service career as a public information specialist with the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (WV DHHR); where he also served as Director of the Division of Rural Health, Bureau for Public Health, WV DHHR.

In 2005, Joe was hired as Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Operations and Communications for the West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety (DMAPS): now formally known as the Department of Homeland Security.

Joe was subsequently appointed Cabinet Secretary of DMAPS by Governor Joe Manchin and again by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin.

Upon the administration change to Governor Jim Justice in 2017, Joe took on the role as Director of Correctional Operations. In 2018, he was appointed to the position of Director of Justice and Community Services and the Director of the Division of Administrative Ser- vices; where he also served in the capacity of Criminal Justice Policy Advisor until retiring in July of this year. Joe is married to Karen O’Sullivan Thornton, retired Assistant Attorney General for the State of West Virginia. Joe and Karen have one daughter Jorden who is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, practicing and residing in Manchester, New Hampshire.