DHEC Announces New Members to Executive Leadership Team

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) today announced the hiring of three new members of the agency’s executive leadership team.

Karla Buru will assume the role of Chief of Staff for the agency, Michael Mickey will serve as Chief Information Officer, and Scott Jaillette now oversees government and legislative affairs for DHEC as the Director of Legislative Affairs.
“These three hires represent the completion of our agency’s executive leadership team,” said DHEC Director Edward Simmer, MD, MPH, DFAPA. “Each person brings a wealth of experience and drive that will help our team of talented and dedicated employees continue our critical work in providing quality health and environmental services to the people of South Carolina”
Buru holds two master’s degrees in public health and social work and since Sept. 2019 has worked in key leadership positions at the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Prior to that, Buru worked at DHEC from 2015-2019 where her last position was as the Director of the Project Management Office.
Mickey comes to DHEC with more than two decades of information technology experience in the health care environment, having directed efforts at hospital systems in Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, and South Carolina. His most recent role was as Chief Information Officer for the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs.
Prior to joining DHEC, Jaillette served as Director of Business Development and Government Relations for Whitaker Contracting Corp. In this position, he led local and state government relations in Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. He also served as a valued member of the Office of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham for more than 15 years.
“I look forward to our board, staff, partners, legislature and the public getting to know these talented leaders as we continue our work to make DHEC the best agency it can be,” Dr. Simmer said.
Jaillette’s first day with the agency was Aug. 30. Buru and Mickey will begin work at DHEC on Oct. 4.

Karla Buru,

Chief of Staff

Karla Buru serves as the Chief of Staff for the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. In this role she reports directly to the agency director and assists him in the development and implementation of special projects, strategies, budgeting and agency initiatives on a day-to-day basis.

Buru is completing a doctorate in Health Leadership from the University of North Carolina and since Sept. 2019 has worked at the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services as the Assistant Deputy Director of Governance and Continuous Improvement. Prior to that Buru worked at DHEC from 2015-2019

where her last position was the Director of the Project Management Office.

Buru has served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Romania and later returned as a Fulbright scholar to conduct research. She is a graduate of the South Carolina Certified Public Manager (CPM) Program, a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications, master’s degree in social work, and master’s degree in public health at the University of South Carolina.

Scott Jaillette, Director of Legislative Affairs

Scott Jaillette serves as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. In this role, Jaillette represents the agency and its more than 3,500 staff on matters before the General Assembly. He also serves as a lead liaison for the Governor’s Office, Congressional Delegation, staff and officials of other state agencies and organizations.

Prior to joining DHEC, Jaillette served as Director of Business Development and Government Relations for Whitaker Contracting Corp. In this position, he led local and state government relations in Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. In addition, he served as a staff member for U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham for more than 15 years. Jaillette began his career with Senator Graham’s Office as a Constituent Services Liaison serving 14 counties in the Midlands and ultimately became the Senior State Staffer for Military, Veterans, and Energy. As the Senior State Staffer for Military, Veterans, and Energy, Jaillette served as the statewide point of contact for any issues relating to the nine military installations in the state, the S.C. National Guard as well as over 400 thousand veterans, and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Jaillette received a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of South Carolina. He lives in Columbia, with his wife Ashley and their three children, where he remains active in his community. He currently serves on the Executive Committee for the Association of the United States Army – Palmetto State Chapter as well as serving on the board of the S.C. Chapter of the American Public Works Association and USO South Carolina.

Michael Mickey, Chief Information Officer

Michael Mickey serves as the Chief Information Officer for the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. He comes to DHEC with more than two decades of IT experience in the health care environment, having directed efforts at hospital systems in Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi and South Carolina. His most recent role was as Chief Information Officer for the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs.

In his role as Chief Information Officer, Mickey will oversee all aspects of

Information Technology operations at DHEC and coordinate the continuous maintenance, upgrading and security of DHEC’s system-wide operations across all 46 South Carolina counties. He earned a bachelor’s degree and M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix.