Governor-elect Sherrill nominates Raynard Washington for health commissioner, Susan Ochs for banking and insurance post
TRENTON, N.J. — Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill on Thursday announced two cabinet nominations, tapping Dr. Raynard Washington to serve as New Jersey’s next health commissioner and Susan Ochs to lead the Department of Banking and Insurance.
Sherrill said Washington, a public health leader from North Carolina with prior experience in Philadelphia and the federal government, would work with her administration on efforts including protecting access to affordable health care, improving transparency in health care pricing, expanding access to physical and mental health services, and leading public health initiatives.
“I am honored to nominate Dr. Raynard Washington to be the next Commissioner for the Department of Health. A lifetime public servant, Dr. Washington will be essential in keeping our state healthy and safe. At a time when Trump and RFK Jr. are rewriting longstanding guidelines and undermining trust in medical care, it is critical New Jersey have experienced leadership to keep us healthy. Dr. Washington is exactly that type of leader, and I look forward to working with him to keep all New Jerseyans healthy,” said Governor-elect Sherrill.
“Thank you to Gov.-elect Sherrill for her trust in me and the opportunity to serve the people of New Jersey. While Washington is attacking our public health institutions, New Jersey must do everything we can to protect the public’s health and safety, including providing reliable medical information, based in science. I look forward to working with the Gov.-elect to lower the cost and improve access to health care, and ensure the state’s public health system is prepared to respond to ongoing and emerging public health threats, while continuing its work to make good health possible for all New Jerseyans,” said Dr. Raynard Washington.
Washington has served as director of public health for Mecklenburg County since 2021 and previously served as deputy health director there from 2020 to 2021, according to the announcement. Before that, he served as chief epidemiologist and deputy health commissioner for the City of Philadelphia and worked as a health research scientist for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the announcement said. He has also served as an adjunct professor at Temple University and American University.
Washington earned bachelor’s degrees in biological science and chemistry, a master of public health in epidemiology and a Ph.D. in epidemiology from the University of Pittsburgh, according to the announcement.
Sherrill also said she will nominate Ochs as commissioner of the Department of Banking and Insurance, where she would oversee Get Covered NJ, the state’s health insurance marketplace, and regulate banking, insurance, real estate and health care markets with a focus on consumer protection.
“We need a leader who will work to lower insurance costs for Garden State families whether that’s healthcare or auto insurance. That’s why I’m nominating Susan Ochs as our next Commissioner of the Department of Banking and Insurance. Susan brings decades of experience driving reform in the financial sector that will be key to regulating rates for New Jersey’s health and auto insurance marketplaces, holding PBM middlemen driving up prescription drug costs accountable, and going after anyone discriminating in mortgage and business lending,” said Governor-elect Sherrill.
“It is an honor to be nominated by the Governor-elect to be the Commissioner of the Department of Banking and Insurance. I share Governor-elect Sherrill’s deep commitment to protecting New Jersey consumers and ensuring that their critical needs – from health insurance to mortgages to small business loans – are accessible and affordable. These are challenging times for financial consumers, and I look forward to leading an agency that is working every day to help secure their health and financial wellbeing,” said Susan Ochs.
Ochs is the CEO of Ochs Advisors, LLC, a New Jersey-based consulting firm focused on leadership and organizational strategy, and is an executive coach and adjunct professor at Fordham Law School, according to the announcement. She previously founded a policy initiative at the Aspen Institute focused on reforming banking culture after serving at the U.S. Department of the Treasury following the 2008 financial crisis, the announcement said.
Her background also includes serving as senior adviser to the governor for economic and business affairs in New Jersey, holding senior roles at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Rockefeller Foundation, and working in private-sector leadership roles in financial services, the announcement said. Ochs holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Duke University. She is a New Jersey native and lives in Monroe Township, officials said.
