AUSTIN – Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Chris Traylor today announced John Scott is stepping down as chief operating officer of The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). Scott joined HHSC in January, where he served as the chief architect behind the agency’s internal ethics and contracting reform. He will return to the private sector, where he is known as one of the top civil litigation attorneys in Texas history.
“I want to extend my sincerest gratitude to John Scott for his steadfast commitment and service to the State of Texas,” said Gov. Greg Abbott. “While working in my administration as attorney general and throughout his tenure at HHSC, John consistently prioritized the needs of his fellow Texans above his own, and his dedication has made the Lone Star State an even better place to call home. I thank him for his service and wish him the best of luck in all future endeavors.”
“The impact of John’s sound assistance, advice, and counsel cannot be overstated,” said Commissioner Traylor. “He brought with him to the HHS system the legal acumen and the commitment to excellence necessary to affect immediate change during one of the most difficult periods for any state agency in recent memory. He is a dedicated public servant, he is a friend, and he will be missed.”
“The strides we have made at the direction of Gov. Abbott have helped reshape contracting in Texas state government,” said John Scott. “Working successfully to address the challenges that the system faced stands as one of the highlights of my professional career. I am honored to have been able to serve the State of Texas in this capacity.”
Prior to joining HHSC, Scott served under then-Attorney General Greg Abbott as the deputy attorney general for civil litigation and was a partner at Scott Yung LLP. Scott received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from The University of Texas at Austin and graduated from the South Texas College of Law in 1988. He is married to wife, Talley and is a father of three.