Little Rock, Arkansas – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has announced a series of personnel changes within the Governor’s Office as her administration prepares for the 2027 legislative session. The appointments place three experienced public servants into key leadership positions that will oversee legislative strategy, policy development, and coalition building.
The changes include the promotion of Josh Stewart to Director of Legislative Affairs, the appointment of Zach Jacobs as Policy Director, and the addition of Heather Patterson as Director of Advance & Coalitions. State officials said the new leadership team is intended to strengthen the Governor’s Office as it advances policy priorities in the coming year.
Governor Sanders said the appointments reflect her administration’s commitment to continuing its work on conservative reforms while building on previous legislative efforts.
“As we head into the 2027 legislative session, I want to add new talent to my team of smart, driven leaders who can help advance our conservative agenda and continue Arkansas’ record as a blueprint for reform for the entire country,” said Governor Sanders. “Josh, Zach, and Heather have proven themselves through their service to our state, and I’m excited to have them take on these roles.”
Josh Stewart, who has served as a policy advisor in the Governor’s Office, will now become Director of Legislative Affairs. In his previous role, Stewart worked on a wide range of policy issues, including tourism, outdoor recreation, administrative rulemaking, and technology.
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Among the initiatives highlighted by the Governor’s Office were Stewart’s involvement in Arkansas’ acquisition of Blanchard Springs and his work on developing the state’s first statewide rules governing the use of artificial intelligence in state government. As Director of Legislative Affairs, Stewart will help coordinate the administration’s legislative priorities and work with lawmakers during the upcoming session.
Stewart was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. He earned a degree in Criminology from the University of Arkansas in 2021 before completing his law degree at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Bowen School of Law in 2024.
Another key appointment places Zach Jacobs in the role of Policy Director. Jacobs most recently served as Deputy Chief of Staff at the Arkansas Department of Education, where he worked on education policy, executive leadership, and coordination with state and local government partners.
Before joining Arkansas’ education leadership team, Jacobs served as Deputy Secretary of Education for the Commonwealth of Virginia under Governor Glenn Youngkin. In that position, he helped shape statewide education priorities and oversee operational strategy.
His professional background also includes leading state and federal government relations for the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and serving on Capitol Hill as a Senior Legislative Assistant. During his time in Congress, Jacobs worked on issues involving appropriations, agriculture, education, energy, and national security. He began his public service career at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the Office of Congressional Relations under then-Secretary Sonny Perdue.
Originally from Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Jacobs is a first-generation college graduate. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management and National Security and Foreign Affairs from Virginia Tech and later completed a Master of Arts in Strategic Communications at Liberty University.
The Governor’s Office also announced that Heather Patterson has joined the administration as Director of Advance & Coalitions. In this position, she will oversee event planning and help strengthen relationships with community groups and stakeholders across Arkansas.
Before joining the Governor’s Office, Patterson served as Connection Director for Fellowship Bible Church. Her responsibilities included coordinating and managing hundreds of volunteers each week while organizing large-scale events attended by as many as 6,000 people.
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An Arkansas native who grew up in the northeastern part of the state, Patterson graduated from Arkansas State University in 2011 and later earned a degree from Liberty University in 2017. She now lives in Little Rock with her husband and their three daughters.
The personnel announcements come as Governor Sanders prepares for the next legislative session, where the administration is expected to pursue additional policy initiatives. By placing experienced staff members in leadership roles across legislative affairs, policy development, and coalition outreach, the Governor’s Office aims to strengthen coordination within state government and support its agenda during the 2027 session.
With backgrounds spanning law, education, government relations, public policy, and organizational leadership, the three appointees bring a broad range of experience to the administration as it enters its next phase of legislative planning and governance.
