Ferguson names leaders for three state agencies

OLYMPIA — Governor-elect Bob Ferguson selected leaders of three state agencies Wednesday, according to an announcement from Ferguson’s office: Marcus Glasper as director of the Department of Licensing; David Puente Jr. as the director of the Department of Veterans Affairs; and Cheryl Strange as acting secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services. Strange formerly served as Secretary of DSHS from 2017 to 2021. Marcus Glasper has been serving as the director of the Department of Licensing since April 2023, according to the announcement. In his role at DOL, Glasper serves on the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission and the Transportation Economic and Revenue Forecast Council. Glasper has over 30 years of public sector experience, and prior to his appointment at DOL, he served as the director of the Washington State Lottery for five years. He has served the public in a variety of Washington State executive leadership positions including Deputy Director at the Department of Revenue and Assistant Deputy Secretary for the Department of Corrections. Prior to his state service, he spent a decade working for the United States Department of Energy.