Lt. Gov. Ainsworth promotes Catherine Gayle Fuller to chief of staff

Alabama Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth announced Thursday that Catherine Gayle Fuller will serve as his new chief of staff.

“Catherine Gayle has amassed significant experience during her time in the Governor’s Office and my office, and she is uniquely qualified to step into the role of chief of staff,” Ainsworth said of Fuller.

“A true conservative who is led by her faith, Catherine Gayle is one of the smartest policy minds I know, and her ability to shape policy conversations will help us carry out our agenda as we continue working to make an already great state even better,” the lieutenant governor continued.

Fuller’s appointment comes after former Ainsworth Chief of Staff Jess Skaggs left the lieutenant governor’s office to step in as chief of staff for Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman.

Skaggs is expected to begin work in Gudger’s office later this month, taking over the role from Gudger’s former Chief of Staff Tim Howe, who also announced last month he would be taking on a new position at the head of FORGEPAC’s incumbent protection program.

“Jess has been an incredible and loyal employee, and he shares in much of our success,” Ainsworth said of Skaggs. “His relationships with the senators and his knowledge of the legislative process will be as much of an asset to Pro Tem Gudger as they have been to me.”

Fuller first joined Ainsworth’s office in 2023 as deputy chief of staff, with Ainsworth’s office citing her duties in the role as “overseeing policy initiatives and serving as [Ainsworth’s] principal spokesperson.”

Fuller had previously worked as director of appointments for Governor Kay Ivey and as a senior policy advisor at the Alabama Department of Revenue.

She earned her undergraduate and masters degrees in political science from Samford University and the University of Alabama. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree.

“Catherine Gayle Fuller is one of the brightest policy minds that I know, and she has the ability to shape and direct the conversation on important issues affecting Alabamians across the state,” Ainsworth wrote in a post on X announcing her appointment. “She will do a great job as my new chief of staff in the Lieutenant Governor’s Office.”

Fuller declined to comment on her appointment.