Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker Monday announced appointments in his administration. Among them is the re-appointment of Jerry Costello II to serve as director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
Costello previously served as the director of Law Enforcement for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Costello represented the 116th district in the Illinois House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019, during which he served as chair the Agriculture and Conservation committee.
A graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Costello decided to serve his country by joining the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division.
Following his military service in Iraq, Costello returned to Illinois where he became a police officer and rose through the ranks to become an assistant chief of police.
In addition, Pritzker appointed Natalie Finnie to serve as director of the Department of Natural Resources. Finnie has served as deputy director of DNR since August 2021 where she oversaw the Office of Land Management, Legislative Department, Office of Oil & Gas Management, and Office of Mines and Mineral.
Prior to this, she was the State Representative of the 118th District from 2017 to 2019. She has experience as an Advanced Practice Nurse and Family Nurse Practitioner.
Finnie received her Associate of Science and Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Southern Indiana. She received her Master of Science in Nursing at Vanderbilt University.
These and other appointments Pritzker made Monday are pending confirmation by the Illinois Senate.
Categories: Illinois, Government & Policy