A Mobridge native has been named as the permanent Secretary of the
Department of Human Services.
Shawnie Rechtenbaugh has been serving as the interim secretary since January 2019. Since 2006 Retchenbaugh served South Dakotans, when she started her career as the state prevention coordinator for DHS.
Before joining the Noem Administration, Rechtenbaugh served as the Department of Public Safety’s State 9-1-1 Coordinator. While there, NextGen 911 institute gave her the Government leader award for her leadership in advancing the state’s 911 system. She was then promoted to deputy secretary and finally interim secretary of Public Safety.
Noem says she is pleased that Shawnie agreed to serve in this role on a permanent basis, voicing concerns about long term care being a critical issue among many others. Likewise Rechtenbaugh says “I look forward to working with our providers and department staff to improve services to our citizens living with a disability and those with long-term care needs.”
Rechtenbaugh is from Mobridge, graduated from Northern State University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and received her Government Leadership Excellence certificate through the University of South Dakota.
Rechtenbaugh and her husband Scott live in Pierre and have two daughters.
