A fellow Iraq War veteran will join Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin's staff on Monday.
Griffin's chief of staff, Annamarie Atwood, is resigning. Her husband, Trenton Atwood, a captain in the U.S. Air Force, was transferred to Los Angeles.
"I have been in Arkansas for four years. I have actually been with Tim for four years," she said. "I'm excited about it, but honestly, I've loved Arkansas. California will be, let's see, the tenth state I've lived in."
Atwood previously served as Griffin's campaign manager and worked for his congressional office. Today is her last day.
To fill her shoes, Griffin hired Scott Burton, an attorney at Wright, Lindsey & Jennings in Little Rock and a 2008 presidential campaign operative for U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
Burton served as a noncommissioned officer in the U.S. Marine Corps infantry and was deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.
"I've always wanted to serve in some capacity. I think public service is incredibly important and at the age of 18, I think that was the most dramatic way, the most significant way, that I could do that," the 33-year-old said.
"I also appreciate the discipline that the military instills in young people. I definitely benefited from it. I probably would not have been in a position to serve as Tim Griffin's chief of staff had it not been for that experience."
Griffin has served in the U.S. Army Reserve for 19 years, was deployed to Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division and holds the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Burton said the lieutenant governor has ideas about school choice and tax reform that appealed to him.
"He doesn't have any spelled-out authority, so we're going to see what we can get involved with and make happen," he said.
Burton is originally from northern Illinois, and his wife is from Texarkana. The two met at the Republican National Convention in 2008. They have three children.
In a statement, Griffin called Atwood "a proven leader" and said she would be missed. He also said he looked forward to working with Burton.
"I am excited to have marine and fellow Iraq War veteran Scott join the team," Griffin said. "His sharp legal mind and leadership skills will be an asset to my office."
Metro on 10/09/2015