Jessica Whichard

Jessica joined the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs as Chief of Staff in January 2025. She previously served in state government at the North Carolina Department of Justice working in strategic communications. Her prior work includes serving in the Obama-Biden White House and six years at the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs as Senior Advisor for strategic communications and as interim Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs. She also worked at the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina as Vice President of Communications and Public Policy where she elevated advocacy, integrated communication, and focused on root cause work and partnerships.  

She and her husband, Jordan, have two young daughters and live in Raleigh, NC. Jessica also serves as co-chair of Governor Stein's Interagency Council for Coordinating Homelessness Programs (ICCHP).