Two South Dakota public officials will leave their current roles and take on different positions at the Department of Homeland Security.
David Flute, secretary of the state’s Department of Tribal Relations, was appointed as DHS senior tribal adviser on Indian affairs, while Bureau of Information and Technology Commissioner Madhu Gottumukkala was named deputy director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, SD.gov reported.
Flute and Gottumukkala will serve under DHS Secretary and Wash100 Award winner Kristi Noem, who previously was South Dakota’s governor. State Gov. Larry Rhoden said the two will add value to Noem’s efforts to protect homeland security as DHS head, noting Flute and Gottumukkala’s role in keeping South Dakota strong, safe and free.
Who Is David Flute?
Flute is a member of Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, a federally recognized tribe located on the Lake Traverse Reservation in northeast South Dakota. Noem appointed him as chairman of the Department of Tribal Relations in 2018 to foster relationships with the state’s nine tribal nations.
Who Is Madhu Gottumukkala?
Gottumukkala, a Dakota State University graduate, was appointed as Bureau of Information and Technology commissioner for the state in September. He previously served as senior director of business solutions at Sanford Health, chief technology officer at CallHealth and director of central engineering at Polycom.
He will remain as BIT commissioner until May 16.
