Tennessee Governor-elect Marsha Blackburn announced Thursday the members of her Transition Advisory Committee, who will serve under Chairman Stuart McWhorter as she prepares to take office in January.
The committee includes Donna Barrett, Julie Beaman, Steve Brophy, Cato Johnson, and Arch Trimble, who will join McWhorter in overseeing the transition from Governor Bill Lee’s administration to Blackburn’s incoming administration.
Today, I'm pleased to announce members of the Transition Advisory Committee, who will serve under Chairman @mcwhorters.
I’m honored to have these Tennesseans join our team, and I look forward to our work to ensure that Tennessee leads the country when it comes to faith, family,… pic.twitter.com/73JyK1qL7m
— Marsha Blackburn (@VoteMarsha) November 5, 2026
Barrett formerly represented District 34 in the Tennessee House of Representatives and worked alongside Blackburn during efforts to defeat a state income tax in the early 2000s.
Beaman previously served in Lee’s administration as chief of staff and strategy for the Tennessee Department of General Services and was also a member of his gubernatorial transition team.
Brophy served as Blackburn’s chief of staff in Congress from 2003 to 2009, while Johnson, who recently retired after more than 40 years with the hospital system, previously served as Methodist Healthcare’s senior vice president and chief of staff for public policy and regulatory affairs.
Trimble is the founder of Arch About TN, an economic development consulting firm that works with small businesses, nonprofits, and communities on strategic growth and business challenges.
“Under Chairman McWhorter’s leadership, the team is already working to ensure a smooth transition,” Blackburn said in a statement. “I’m honored to have these Tennesseans join our team, and I look forward to our work to ensure that Tennessee leads the country when it comes to faith, family, hope, and opportunity.”
McWhorter, who currently serves as Lee’s deputy governor and commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, was named chairman of Blackburn’s transition committee on Wednesday.
“Governor-elect Blackburn has assembled an exceptional team that shares her vision for Tennessee’s future,” McWhorter said. “We are focused on delivering for the next governor, so she is ready on day one to make the best state in the nation even better.”
Blackburn defeated Democratic nominee Jerri Green and independent candidate David Hatley in Tuesday’s gubernatorial election, becoming the first woman elected governor in Tennessee history.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Blackburn Wins Election Night” by Marsha Blackburn.
