CHARLESTON — Gov. Patrick Morrisey made his final cabinet appointments Tuesday by announcing new leadership at the Department of Veterans’ Assistance, the West Virginia National Guard and West Virginia State Police, with the civilian arm of the National Guard possibly taking on the mission of the Department of Homeland Security.

During a press conference Tuesday at the State Capitol Building, Morrisey announced the appointment of Brig. Gen. Jim Seward as the adjutant general of the West Virginia National Guard, Maj. Jim Mitchell as superintendent of the West Virginia State Police, and Clarksburg attorney Ryan Kennedy as cabinet secretary for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Seward is the director of the Veterans Justice Commission at the Council on Criminal Justice in Washington, D.C. Most recently, Seward was a colonel and staff judge advocate with the Army National Guard in Topeka, Kansas. Seward is a former sergeant in the U.S. Army with eight years of service before becoming a National Guard officer in 2000. He also served as general counsel for the governor of South Dakota from 2010 to 2016.

“Jim Seward … served in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and the border of Germany,” Morrisey said. “He has an incredible background. When you see this person, he’s, he’s amazing…He’s had many different roles, not only in the military, but he also served in state government in the past. So, he brings that to bear, which is incredibly important.”

The West Virginia National Guard includes the West Virginia Army National Guard; the West Virginia Air National Guard; and West Virginia Military Authority, which is the civilian arm. The National Guard has more than 6,800 soldiers, airmen, and civilians. Current Adjutant General Bill Crane plans to retire.

Morrisey said he plans to submit a proposal to the Legislature to consolidate the Department of Homeland Security and put it under the authority of the new adjutant general. The department oversees the West Virginia State Police, the State Fire Marshal, the Division of Protective Services, the Parole Board, the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the Division of Emergency Management among other agencies.

The National Guard, which the governor serves as commander-in-chief of during peacetime, often assists in disaster response and law enforcement support as needed. During two states of emergency under former governor Jim Justice, the National Guard even assisted in filling shortages in staff at state prisons and jails.

“There’s a little bit, we think, of overlap,” Morrisey said. “We think we can have appropriate consolidation. … We’re looking at ways to bring that back together and ultimately to generate not just cost savings, but bring new management efficiencies to bear. I think that’s very important.”

The National Guard also played a role last summer in providing support for Texas National Guard in patrolling the southern border with Mexico. President Donald Trump recently declared an emergency at the southern border with the possibility of using the National Guard to provide support to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to assist with arrests and deportation of those in the country illegally.

Morrisey confirmed Tuesday that approximately 58 people under arrest for illegal immigration are being held in the state correctional system at the direction of ICE. Morrisey said some of the 58 have prior criminal records.

“I believe that what President Trump has done is absolutely correct. I’ve always talked about the problems of immigration and how it affects West Virginia. To be clear, our numbers may be lower than others in terms of the illegal immigrants compared to other states, but I’ve repeatedly, for many years, talked about the impact of having illegal immigrants and then bringing deadly fentanyl into the state that’s flooding in from Mexico.”

Mitchell is the chief of staff services for the State Police with more than 24 years of experience after joining the State Police in 2000. Mitchell’s total law enforcement experience spans more than 33 years, with prior service with the Beckley Police Department and military service. He succeeds Col. J.C. Chambers.

Kennedy, a resident of Clarksburg, is an attorney with the Littler Mendelson law firm and previously with Robinson and McElwee for nearly 15 years. He clerked for U.S. District Court Judge Irene Keeley and is a U.S. Army veteran.

“Since the end of his military service, Mr. Kennedy spent countless hours helping veterans through a variety of charitable endeavors and service projects,” Morrisey said. “He’s incredibly talented. I’m looking forward to having you get to know Ryan Kennedy.”