Corderre, Paiva Weed's Chief of Staff, Picked for Obama Administration Job

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration announced today that Tom Coderre, Rhode Island Senate Chief of Staff, has accepted a political appointment in Barack Obama's administration.

His new job will be as a Senior Advisor to the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. SAMHSA is an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

In this new role, Coderre will work on a variety of policy issues for SAMHSA and the Administrator, including but not limited to substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery programs and policy.

In addressing these issues Coderre will interact with and help represent SAMHSA with such HHS offices and operating divisions as the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the Food and Drug Administration. Coderre will also interact with SAMHSA and HHS staff and the White House on issues such as the National Drug Control Strategy and the National HIV/AIDS Strategy.

Coderre has been Chief of Staff to Rhode Island Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed since January of 2009. He has also been very active in addiction recovery groups both locally and nationally. He served as the Board Chair for Rhode Island Communities for Addiction Recovery Efforts (RICARES) and he is the former National Field Director of Faces & Voices of Recovery, based in Washington, D.C. Coderre has an extensive background in government and served in the Rhode Island Senate from 1995-2003. He is a graduate of Rhode Island College where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science.

On his appointment, Coderre said, “I’m excited about this opportunity to serve my country and to do something I’m extremely passionate about. I consider it a tremendous honor to work with people who are committed to helping those struggling with addiction and mental illness find and sustain their recovery for the long-term, as I have been able to do. I look forward to working on President Obama’s and SAMHSA’s agenda and helping to craft effective public policy to deal with these serious public health issues.”

In a statement, Paiva Weed said she's sad to see him go, but has "no doubt that he is the right person for this important public policy position with the Obama Administration."

"Tom’s varied skill set as well as his life experience makes him perfectly suited. I have been so impressed by his ability to work collaboratively with many different parties inside and outside the Senate and know he will bring those talents with him to Washington," she said. "I’m extremely proud of his recovery and the work he did as our Chief of Staff.”