Denise Smyler

American lawyer

Denise J. Smyler

General Counsel of Pennsylvania
In office January 20, 2015 – December 2019
Governor	Tom Wolf
Preceded by	Jarad W. Handelman
Succeeded by	Jennifer C. Selber

Personal details
Alma mater	New York University (B.A.) Georgetown University (J.D.)
Occupation	Attorney

Denise J. Smyler is an American attorney and former General Counsel of Pennsylvania, who served on the executive staff of Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf. She was previously a member of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority Board and an assistant district attorney.^[1]^[2]^[3]

The first female counsel to a Philadelphia police commissioner and the first female to serve as counsel to a Philadelphia prison commissioner, she was also the third woman and first African American to be appointed as Pennsylvania's general counsel.^[4]

In December 2019, she was appointed by Wolf to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.^[5]

Biography

Smyler is the founding attorney and owner of the Smyler Firm, which united with Wadud Ahmad and Joseph Zaffarese to form Ahmad, Zaffarese & Smyler, LLC in September 2013. Prior to her state appointment, Smyler worked as an assistant district attorney and as legal counsel to the Philadelphia Prison Commissioner before being appointed chief legal counsel to the Philadelphia Police Commissioner.^[6]^[7]

Commonwealth public service

Smyler headed the Office of General Counsel (OGC), overseeing the provision of legal services to the governor, his senior staff, and more than thirty executive branch and independent agencies.^[8] As head of OGC, she worked to improve client service and strengthen the capacity of OGC lawyers. Among her accomplishments during her first eighteen months as general counsel, Smyler worked with Wolf to expand and create opportunities for small and diverse law firms to serve the Commonwealth as outside counsel.^[9]

In December 2019, Wolf appointed her to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.^[10]

References

^ Field, Nick (8 January 2015). "PA-Gov: Wolf Announces More Cabinet Choices". PoliticsPA. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
^ "The General Counsel". Pennsylvania Office of General Counsel. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
^ "Wolf names 2 more choices as top advisers." Sharon, Pennsylvania: The Herald, January 9, 2015.
^ Pritchett, Valerie. "Woman serves as Pennsylvania governor’s lead attorney." Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: WHTM-ABC 27, March 27, 2019 (retrieved online March 8, 2023.
^ "Wolf appoints Denise Smyler to Gaming Control Board." Shippensburg, Pennsylvania: The Shippensburg News-Chronicle, December 31, 2019 (retrieved online March 8, 2023).
^ "PA-Gov: Wolf Announces More Cabinet Choices". Retrieved 2016-12-09.
^ "Wolf names 2 more choices as top advisers," The Herald, January 9, 2015.
^ "Gov. Wolf appoints Nedia Ralston to Gaming Control Board, Denise Smyler to Chairwoman." Allentown, Pennsylvania: WFMZ News, July 15, 2021.
^ "The General Counsel". www.ogc.pa.gov. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
^ "Wolf appoints Denise Smyler to Gaming Control Board," The Shippensburg News-Chronicle, December 31, 2019.

External links

Pennsylvania Office of General Counsel

Cabinet of Governor Tom Wolf (2015–2023)

Cabinet
Secretary of Aging	Teresa Osborne (2015-2019) Robert Torres (2019-2023)
Secretary of Agriculture	Russell Redding (2015–2023)
Secretary of Banking	Robin Wiessmann (2015–2020) Richard Vague (2020–2023)
Secretary of Community and Economic Development	Dennis Davin (2015–2022) Neil Weaver (acting: 2022–2023)
Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources	Cindy Dunn (2015–2023)
Secretary of Corrections	John Wetzel (2015–2021) George Little (acting: 2021–2023)
Secretary of Drug and Alcohol Programs	Gary Tennis (2015–2017) Jennifer Smith (2017–2023)
Secretary of Education	Pedro Rivera (2015–2020) Noe Ortega (2020-2022) Eric Hagerty (acting: 2022–2023)
Secretary of Environmental Protection	John Quigley (2015–2016) Patrick McDonnell (2016–2022) Ramez Ziadeh (acting: 2022–2023)
Secretary of General Services	Curt Topper (2015–2022) Joseph Lee (acting: 2022–2023)
Secretary of Health	Karen Murphy (2015–2017) Rachel Levine (2017–2021) Alison Beam (acting: 2021–2022) Keara Klineparter (acting: 2022) Denise Johnson (acting: 2022–2023)
Secretary of Human Services	Ted Dallas (2015–2017) Teresa Miller (2017–2021) Meg Snead (2021–2023)
Insurance Commissioner	Teresa Miller (2015–2017) Jessica Altman (2017–2022) Michael Humphreys (acting: 2022–2023)
Secretary of Labor & Industry	Kathy Manderino (2015–2017) Jerry Oleksiak (2017–2020) Jennifer Berrier (2020–2023)
Adjutant General of Military & Veterans Affairs	Maj. Gen. James R. Joseph (2015–2016) Brig. Gen. Tony Carrelli (2016–2020) Maj. Gen. Mark J. Schindler (2020–2023)
Secretary of Revenue	Eileen H. McNulty (2015–2017) C. Daniel Hassell (2017–2023)
Secretary of the Commonwealth	Pedro Cortés (2015–2017) Robert Torres (acting: 2017–2019) Kathy Boockvar (2019–2021) Veronica Degraffenreid (2021–2022) Leigh M. Chapman (2022-2023)
State Police Commissioner	Tyree Blocker (2015–2018) Robert Evanchick (acting: 2018–2019, 2019–2023)
Secretary of Transportation	Leslie Richards (2015–2019) Yassmin Gramian (2019–2023)
Physician General	Dr. Rachel Levine (2015–2021) Wendy Braund (2021–2022) Denise Johnson (2022–2023)
Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Director	Richard D. Flinn, Jr. (2015–2018, confirmation not required) David Padfield (2019–2023, confirmation not required)
Fire Commissioner	Tim Solobay (2015–2017) Bruce Trego (acting: 2018–2021) Thomas Cook (acting: 2021–2023)

Executive Officers
Chief of Staff	Katie McGinty (2015) Mary Isenhour (2015–2017) Mike Brunelle (2017–2023)
Director of Planning & Policy	John Hanger (2015–2016) Sarah Galbally (2016–2023)
Director of Legislative Affairs	Mary Isenhour (2015) Will Danowski (2015–2023)
Secretary of the Budget	Randy Albright (2015–2023)
Secretary of Administration	Sharon Minnich (2015–2023)
Inspector General	Grayling Williams (2015–2016) Bruce Beemer (2016–2019) Lucas M. Miller (2020-)
General Counsel	Denise Smyler (2015–2023)