LEXINGTON, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear announced significant changes to his executive cabinet, promoting two career employees to secretary positions as part of an administrative restructuring designed to improve government efficiency and service delivery.

Ray Perry has been appointed secretary of the Public Protection Cabinet, moving up from his position as deputy secretary where he served for nearly three decades in various roles. Perry, a 17-year employee of the Public Protection Cabinet, previously worked as assistant director of consumer protection and deputy commissioner at the Department of Insurance and as executive director of the Labor Cabinet's General Administration and Procurement Services.

In another promotion, Keith Jackson, commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs, will serve as deputy secretary of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. Jackson, a former firefighter and chief of the Lexington Fire Department, served 27 years in the U.S. Army Reserves, retiring at the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Kerry Harvey, who previously headed the Public Protection Cabinet, is now the secretary of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. Harvey, who served as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky before joining the Beshear administration, brings extensive experience in financial fraud and public corruption prosecution.

The reshuffling also included appointment of Whitney Allen, a retired Army lieutenant colonel with 25 years of combined military service, as the new Department of Veterans Affairs commissioner. Allen has served in various military organizations and locations, including three combat tours in Afghanistan and Kuwait, and earned the Bronze Star Medal and Meritorious Service Medal.

Deputy Secretary Ronnie Bastin announced his retirement after more than 39 years of public service. Bastin began his career with the Kentucky Department of Corrections and later served in various roles at the Lexington Police Department, including chief of police, and as commissioner of public safety in Lexington.

"I have been blessed to have leaders in my administration who have tremendous talent and breadth of knowledge and experience," Beshear said. "The appointments I am announcing today will play to the strengths of these capable professionals and allow us to continue to build that better Kentucky we all want for our families."