Secretary Eric Friedlander
Eric Friedlander is the former chief resiliency officer for Metro Louisville government and currently serves as secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
Friedlander earned a B.A. from Antioch College then came back to Kentucky to begin a decades-long career of service to Kentuckians.
As Cabinet secretary, Friedlander draws upon his financial acumen to lead a $17.5 billion Cabinet that serves every Kentucky citizen in some capacity through its 93 agencies, departments, branches and functions, including the departments for Public Health; Medicaid Services; Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities; Community Based Services; and Aging and Independent Living and Office of the Inspector General; Serve Kentucky; and World Languages Association-certified translations and American Sign Language.
Committed to major social services and population health policies and programs that aim to transform the health and well-being of Kentuckians, he is a champion of all citizens and the more than 8,000 Cabinet employees.
In 2020, Gov. Andy Beshear appointed Friedlander to lead the largest Cabinet in Kentucky state government. Through the years, Friedlander has led or worked in all major departments in the Cabinet.
He is a lifelong Kentuckian, venturing away only to attend college. He is fond of traveling and has visited all 120 Kentucky counties.