Cecile Erwin Young was appointed executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission by Gov. Greg Abbott, taking leadership of the state’s largest agency on Aug. 14, 2020.

Young previously served as acting executive commissioner from June 2018 to October 2018 and most recently as chief deputy executive commissioner. From 2007 to 2011, she served as associate commissioner for health coordination and consumer services at HHSC and returned as chief of staff in January 2015.

Young has over 30 years of state government experience in Texas. She began her state career as a lecturer and research engineer at Texas Tech University and then served as a conference committee clerk for HB 7, which created HHSC in 1991, and she came to work at HHSC to implement the legislation.

Young has served with four Texas governors, an attorney general and a state representative. She has performed budget and policy work since 1987.