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Tom Surtees

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Tom Surtees
Prior offices:
Alabama Secretary of Workforce
Years in office: 2012 - 2014

Alabama Director of Industrial Relations
Years in office: 2012 - 2014
Education
Bachelor's
University of Alabama, Birmingham
Graduate
University of Alabama, Birmingham
Military
Service / branch
U.S. Army Reserve

Tom Surtees is the former Alabama Commissioner of Labor. He was appointed to the position on October 1, 2012, upon the merger of the Department of Labor and the Department of Industrial Relations, for which he previously served as Director.[1] The merger edged out long time officeholder Jim Bennett, who had served as state labor commissioner since his initial appointment in 2003.[2] Surtees resigned from the office in June 2014 to work with McKinney Capital.[3]

A retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, Surtees was the state's Commissioner of Revenue for over three years before joining the Department of Industrial Relations. He is a former member of the Jefferson County Board of Education and the Pleasant Grove City Council.[4]

Besides his public service, Surtees has worked in the private sector as a corporate V.P. and employee relations manager for firms in Birmingham, Alabama.

Biography

Surtees holds both a bachelor's and Master's degree in business administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, as well as a diploma from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Surtees served in the U.S. Army Reserve for 27 years, and retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Political career

Alabama Labor Commissioner (2012-2014)

Surtees was the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations Director when a department merger resulted in his assumption of the post of Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Labor on October 1, 2012. The merger edged out long term state labor commissioner Jim Bennett[2], who was originally appointed in 2003 by Governor Bob Riley and kept on by current Governor Robert Bentley.[5]

Surtees resigned from the office in June 2014 in order to pursue opportunities in the private sector.[3]

Appointments

2012

Surtees was named state labor commissioner on October 1, 2012 by Gov. Bentley.[2]

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Surtees is married to the former Celia Woods. He has two children and three grandchildren.[4]

Recent news

This section links to a Google news search for the term "Tom + Surtees + Alabama + Labor"

See also

External links

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by
Jim Bennett
Alabama Commissioner of Labor
2012-2014
Succeeded by
Fitzgerald Washington