Governor's Director of Child Advocacy Resides in Dunwoody

Gov. Nathan Deal named Dunwoody resident, Ashley Willcott, director of the Office of Child Advocate. 

Starting Feb. 1, Willcott will provide input to state entities tasked to fight child abuse and neglect.

A media announcement said, Willcott is a Certified Child Welfare Law Specialist who has served as an attorney in various capacities in juvenile courts since 1992. 

She has her own private practice and is a Special Assistant Attorney General representing the Department of Human Resources and Rockdale and Dawson counties’ Department of Family and Children Services.

She was appointed DeKalb County Juvenile Court Judge Pro Tem and previously served as the Fulton County Juvenile Court Judge Pro Tem. She was the executive director of the Fulton County CASA, Inc. and the corporate counsel for United Cleaning Specialists, Inc. 

Additionally, the governor has tapped Ben Hames to serve as executive director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development effective immediately. Hames will oversee workforce investment activities and spearhead the state’s skilled trade initiative, Go Build Georgia.

A veteran of two governors’ administrations, Hames began his public service career as Gov. Sonny Perdue’s Speechwriter and worked in the Governor’s Office of Communications until moving on to serve Gov. Deal as Deputy Chief Operating Officer. Hames earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He lives in Atlanta.

Provided by Gov. Nathan Deal's Communication Office