Governor Mike Parson announced that effective September 1, 2024, his Chief of Staff, Aaron Willard, will step back from his daily duties and assume the role of Senior Advisor to the Office of Governor in a part-time capacity. Mr. Willard has served as Governor Parson’s Chief of Staff since the Governor’s inauguration in June 2018.
Governor Parson praised Willard for his leadership and commitment, stating, “Aaron has been loyal and my right-hand man since day one. I’m never one to say someone is irreplaceable, but Aaron’s unique leadership qualities and intelligence, coupled with his heart for public service, come the closest I’ve seen. Crisis after crisis and win after win, Aaron was always in the fight, helping me lead our Governor’s Office team, our Cabinet, 48,000 state employees, and over 6 million Missourians across our great state. With Aaron by my side, our team has been made better; our state government has been made better; and Missouri has been made better. While this isn’t goodbye, I offer a heartfelt thank you for his more than six years (72 months) of committed, steadfast leadership as my Chief of Staff and wish him the best as he gets to spend more well-deserved time with his family.”
Reflecting on his tenure, Willard commented, “Six years ago, I agreed to help the Governor because I believed it would be one of the most challenging and pivotal times for our state. However, what made it uniquely special was the quality, character, and integrity of the Governor himself and the immensely talented and dedicated team in the Governor’s office and across our Cabinet. I am unbelievably proud of how this administration handled and responded to never-before-seen crises and set new standards across every state agency. We also unquestionably provided more opportunities to educate children and train our workforce, as well as made transformational investments in the state’s infrastructure across every region. As we prepare to wind down our administration and prepare for the next one, now is an opportunity for me to spend more time with my beautiful wife and daughters as we begin to think about what comes next for our family. This has been one of the most consequential Republican administrations in Missouri history, and I thank Governor and First Lady Parson for allowing me to be part of it in service to all Missourians.”
In his new role, Willard will continue to advise Governor Parson on matters related to the function of the Governor’s Office, the Executive Cabinet, and the pending gubernatorial transition after the November 5 General Elections.
Mr. Willard has been involved in various roles within Missouri state government and state politics for the last 20 years. Before joining Governor Parson’s Administration, he served as the Acting Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
