Casandra Skinner Hoekstra

Gov. Josh Stein appointed Casandra “San” Hoekstra as Interim Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety on Aug. 10, 2026. A seasoned public safety leader and a history of strong support for victims, she is committed to protecting North Carolinians, strengthening the state’s readiness for natural and human-caused hazards, and supporting effective response, recovery and resilience across communities statewide. Hoekstra also remains deeply committed to the men and women who serve in North Carolina’s military forces and to the department’s broader public-safety workforce.

As interim secretary, Hoekstra provides strategic leadership for a department with critical responsibilities spanning law enforcement, emergency management, National Guard, juvenile justice and the Governor’s Crime Commission.

She emphasizes operational readiness, accountable leadership, interagency coordination and a mission-focused culture that supports personnel and delivers for the people of North Carolina during everyday operations and times of crisis.

Hoekstra previously served as the department’s chief of staff beginning in January 2025, providing strategic leadership and oversight for communications, legislative affairs, internal audit, general counsel, human resources and professional standards. Before being named chief of staff, she served as chief deputy secretary for Administration, overseeing key administrative functions. She also served as interim secretary of the department from August through October 2021.

With more than 25 years of experience in law, public policy and government relations, Hoekstra has built a career advancing public safety, state government effectiveness and service to North Carolina communities. Her prior leadership roles include legislative counsel for the N.C. Association of County Commissioners; general counsel for NCDPS and the former Department of Crime Control and Public Safety; and legislative liaison for the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts. She also served as legislative counsel to Gov. Michael Easley and contributed to statewide policy initiatives through service with the N.C. Domestic Violence Commission and the N.C. Victims Compensation Commission.

Hoekstra earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Asheville and a Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University School of Law.