JACKSON, Mississippi - Mr. Chris M.
Howard, of Madison County, is the new Executive Director of the Mississippi
Department of Rehabilitation Services.
Appointed to the position by the State
Board of Rehabilitation Services in February, Howard is a long-time MDRS
employee, having joined the agency in 2000 and serving the past year as Deputy
Executive Director.
“Mr. Howard brings considerable skills,
talents, and dedication to the position,” states Board Chairman, Jack
Virden. “His selection provides for a very high level of
professionalism and continuity of the mission of MDRS at a time of extreme
change in structure and regulations from the federal government concerning the
rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities.”
Fifteen years ago, Howard began his
career with MDRS as the Director of Internal Audit. In 2002, he was
promoted to Director of Financial Management, Deputy Administrator in 2007, and
Deputy Executive Director in 2014. Prior to coming to the agency, Howard
worked as an Audit Supervisor at the Mississippi Office of the State
Auditor.
Howard received a Bachelor’s Degree in
Accounting from Mississippi State University. He is also a graduate of
the John C. Stennis Institute of Government’s State Executive Development
Leadership Institute, the Certified Public Manager’s Program, and the National
Rehabilitation Leadership Institute. In 2014, he was elected as the State
Employee’s Representative to the Mississippi Public Retirement Systems Board of
Trustees.
Howard is active in numerous
professional organizations, including the Association of Governmental
Accountants, Mississippi Chapter, the Mississippi Association of Governmental
Purchasing and Property Agents, and the National Rehabilitation Association.
Howard
lives in Madison with his wife Dionna, a Madison County public school teacher,
and their two children, Taylor and Barrett.