Two state officials follow Noem to Homeland Security; Rhoden names new tribal relations head

Two high-ranking state government officials are leaving to serve in the federal Department of Homeland Security under former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, and Noem’s successor has chosen a replacement for one of them.

State Department of Tribal Relations Secretary David Flute will serve as senior tribal adviser on Indian affairs for Noem, who now leads Homeland Security. Bureau of Information and Technology Commissioner Madhu Gottumukkala will serve as the deputy director of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. 

Gov. Larry Rhoden said the two played key roles in state government, saying they’ll “add tremendous value” to the federal department.

Flute is an enrolled member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate and served as tribal chairman before he was appointed tribal relations secretary by Noem in 2018. The department works to foster relationships with the nine tribal nations in the state. 

Algin Young, who was appointed as the state’s tribal law enforcement liaison last year, will assume the role of secretary for the Department of Tribal Relations on Friday.

Young served in the Marines before working in law enforcement for 23 years with the Oglala Sioux Tribe. He was appointed to the liaison position by Noem, who alleged he “found himself without a job” for speaking up about drug cartels on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Young said he’s keen to build relationships between South Dakota and tribal communities.

“As Governor Rhoden so often says, we must focus on turning challenges into opportunities,” Young said in a news release.

The current salary for the tribal relations job is $138,911.98.

Gottumukkala will remain BIT commissioner until May 16. The Dakota State University graduate was appointed to the position in September after working with Sanford Health. The bureau manages information and technology-related needs in state government.

“I look forward to continuing to protect and strengthen the nation’s digital and physical infrastructure at a time when it matters most,” Gottumukkala said in the release.

Interested applicants for the commissioner position can apply online. The job’s current salary is $184,805.29.