PRESS RELEASE: Texas Comptroller Huffines Announces Leadership Team

(AUSTIN) — Texas Comptroller Don Huffines today announced sweeping reforms at the Comptroller of Public Accounts’ office, along with the senior leadership team he has recruited to carry them out. The group brings together proven business leaders, tax attorneys, investigators, and career public servants around a single charge: Run the agency with a private-sector mindset; fight for the taxpayer; and root out fraud, waste, and abuse wherever it is found. 

"In just 30 business days, we've made tremendous progress protecting Texas taxpayers and making this office more efficient by eliminating redundancy and flattening the management structure," said Huffines. "I've spent my career building organizations, and the first rule is simple: You are only as successful as the people you hire. I've recruited experienced people who have spent their careers in tax law, state finance, criminal investigations, and government affairs, and they share my commitment to serve the taxpayer with urgency and efficiency – not to serve government bureaucracy.” 

Comptroller Huffines' leadership team includes: 

Noah Betz – Deputy Comptroller and Chief of Staff  Betz has worked for Huffines since 2021, managing operations, finance, and staff across his ventures before joining the agency. Betz and his wife co-founded Bluestone Creatives, a political consulting firm that has won two Pollie Awards from the American Association of Political Consultants and worked for candidates, PACs, nonprofits, and advocacy organizations across Texas. A native Texan, Betz earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Mays Business School at Texas A&M University. 

Christopher Blackwell – General Counsel and Associate Deputy Comptroller  As the agency's chief legal officer, Blackwell will oversee all legal services, advise the Comptroller and Deputy Comptroller on legal matters, and manage outside counsel. He joins the agency from Deloitte, where he advised Fortune 500 companies on indirect tax matters, tax controversy, audit strategy, and state and local taxation. He previously served as Assistant General Counsel at the Texas Comptroller's office, representing the agency in administrative tax disputes. A fifth-generation Texan, Blackwell earned a Juris Doctor from The University of Texas School of Law and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from The University of Texas at Austin. 

Vicky North – General Counsel and Associate Deputy Comptroller, Treasury and Fiscal Matters  North will oversee Fiscal Management, Revenue Estimating, Treasury Operations, Statewide Procurement, Information Technology, Agency Administration, Special Counsel for Tax, Educational Opportunities and Investments, Education Savings Accounts, and Property Tax Assistance. A member of the Comptroller's office since 2008, North has served in several senior legal leadership positions, most recently as General Counsel for Fiscal and Agency Affairs. She has played a key role in developing agency rules, providing legal guidance on major fiscal initiatives, and supporting the office's statutory responsibilities. Before joining the Comptroller's office, she served as an Assistant District Attorney and practiced law in the private sector. A fourth-generation Texan, North earned her Juris Doctor from The University of Texas School of Law and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from The University of Texas at Austin. 

Robin Robinson – General Counsel and Associate Deputy Comptroller, Tax  Robinson will oversee legal matters involving the agency's tax administration responsibilities, including Enforcement, Audit, Taxpayer Services, Account Maintenance, Revenue Processing, and Revenue Accounting. Robinson returns to the Comptroller's office, where she previously worked as a hearings attorney and Deputy General Counsel for the Administrative Hearings Section for over 13 years. She brings more than a decade of experience in public accounting and most recently served as a vice president, tax specialist in the tax practice of a Big Four accounting firm. Earlier in her career, she served as an environmental attorney and as a hearings examiner at the Texas Railroad Commission. A third-generation Texan, Robinson earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Tulane University and a Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law. 

Jeff Norwood – Associate Deputy Comptroller, External Affairs  Norwood will oversee Communications and Information Services, Government Relations, Data Analysis and Transparency, and Economic Development and Community Investment. Norwood brings more than three decades of experience to the agency in government, public affairs, and business. He previously served as Midland County Judge, Chief of Staff to a Texas Railroad Commissioner, and Director of Communications for the Office of the Attorney General of Texas. In the private sector, he founded a national public affairs and advocacy advertising firm and co-founded an electric power aggregation company. A native Texan, Norwood earned a Master of Science in Global Security Studies from Angelo State University and a Bachelor of Arts from Texas Lutheran University. 

Brad Weatherford, CFE – Chief, Criminal Investigations  Weatherford will lead the agency's law enforcement operations, including overall operational strategy and coordination for statewide law enforcement activities. Weatherford brings more than three decades of experience in public safety, corporate security, and investigative leadership. His career includes extensive service with Dell Inc. and the Texas Department of Public Safety, where he held a variety of command and investigative roles encompassing executive protection, major public corruption and fraud-related criminal investigations, and executive operational support. He has served in positions ranging from Highway Patrol and executive protection assignments to specialized investigative roles with federal partners as a white-collar crimes Task Force Officer and with the Texas Rangers’ Public Integrity Unit. His work has included leading high-profile and sensitive investigations and managing complex personnel and organizational responsibilities. A fifth-generation Texan, Weatherford is a graduate of Sam Houston State University, holds a Master Peace Officer license through TCOLE, and is a Certified Fraud Examiner. 

Tetyana Melnyk, Ph.D., CGFM, CTCM – Chief Revenue Estimator  Melnyk came to Texas in 2007 and became a proud American citizen in 2012. A dedicated public servant, she joined the Comptroller's office in 2008 and brings deep expertise in revenue and expenditure estimating, state budgeting, finance, and investment to the stewardship of Texas taxpayer dollars. After serving as Assistant Director of the division, she was named Director in 2021 and Chief Revenue Estimator in 2026. She earned her Ph.D. in Economics/Finance from the Ukrainian Academy of Banking, where she taught as an Associate Professor of Finance. She is a Certified Government Financial Manager and a Certified Texas Contract Manager. 

Hannah Sacia – Director, Government Relations  Sacia is an experienced legislative professional with nearly a decade of service in the Texas House of Representatives, where she served as a Legislative Director during the 2017 and 2019 sessions before being named Chief of Staff in 2022, a role she held until earlier this year. Outside the Capitol, Sacia has established herself as a capable campaign manager and political communications strategist for more than a dozen Republican candidates. She is a fifth-generation Texan and a native of Bastrop.