{"id":45,"date":"2014-06-30T04:14:58","date_gmt":"2014-06-30T04:14:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.remedy5.com\/azo\/?page_id=45"},"modified":"2025-04-29T22:37:53","modified_gmt":"2025-04-29T22:37:53","slug":"staff","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.azoca.gov\/staging\/7968\/about\/staff\/","title":{"rendered":"Staff"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Ombudsman and Staff<\/h1><\/div>
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Joanne MacDonnell – Ombudsman<\/a><\/h2>

Joanne MacDonnell was appointed to a five-year term as the Arizona Ombudsman-Citizens\u2019 Aide starting on July 1, 2022, following confirmation by the 55th Legislature and Governor Ducey. She joined the office as Deputy Ombudsman in 2005 after serving nearly eight years at the Arizona Corporation Commission as the Director of Corporations.<\/p><\/div><\/div>

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marlo-r5<\/a><\/span><\/span>2025-05-05T06:46:02+00:00<\/span>
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Lane Organ – Deputy Ombudsman<\/a><\/h2>

Lane Organ joined the office as Deputy Ombudsman in July 2022 after serving almost seven years as the Ombudsman for the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES).<\/p><\/div><\/div>

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Frank Rutledge<\/a><\/span><\/span>2025-04-30T01:10:43+00:00<\/span>
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Melissa Henry \u2013 Legal Counsel and Dispute Resolution Specialist<\/a><\/h2>

Melissa Henry joined the office in February 2024 and is serving as Legal Counsel and Dispute Resolution Specialist. Prior to joining the Ombudsman\u2019s office, Melissa spent most of her career in state and federal government, including the U.S. Senate, the Arizona Attorney General\u2019s Office, and the Arizona Department of Economic Security. <\/p><\/div><\/div>

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marlo-r5<\/a><\/span><\/span>2025-04-30T01:12:14+00:00<\/span>
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Whitney Herb, JD \u2013 Legal Investigator Ombudsman<\/a><\/h2>

Whitney Herb is Legal Investigator Ombudsman for the Ombudsman\u2019s office. Whitney earned her BA in Sociology at the University of Oregon, with a minor in Psychology and graduating Cum Laude from the Robert D. Clark Honors College.<\/p><\/div><\/div>

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marlo-r5<\/a><\/span><\/span>2025-04-30T01:12:52+00:00<\/span>
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Thomas Driscoll \u2013 Senior Investigator and Child Safety Specialist<\/a><\/h2>

Thomas Driscoll joined the office as a Senior Investigator in August 2024. Before joining the Ombudsman\u2019s office, Thomas worked for the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) for almost eight years as a Specialist, Program Specialist, and Unit Supervisor. <\/p><\/div><\/div>

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marlo-r5<\/a><\/span><\/span>2025-04-30T01:13:42+00:00<\/span>
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Frank Rutledge \u2013 Senior Investigator and Education Specialist<\/a><\/h2>

Frank Rutledge joined the Ombudsman team in June 2016 after working almost nine years with the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES).<\/p><\/div><\/div>

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marlo-r5<\/a><\/span><\/span>2025-04-30T01:17:45+00:00<\/span>
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John Wicus \u2013 Senior Investigator<\/a><\/h2>

John Wicus joined the office as an intern in January of 2018 while completing his Master\u2019s in Politics at Arizona State University.<\/p><\/div><\/div>

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marlo-r5<\/a><\/span><\/span>2025-04-30T01:19:04+00:00<\/span>
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Alicia Nugent \u2013 Investigator<\/a><\/h2>

Alicia Nugent is an investigator who specializes in the Department of Child Safety. Alicia has a Master of Legal Studies emphasizing conflict resolution and criminal law, and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy with an emphasis in Morality, Politics, and Law, both from Arizona State University.<\/p><\/div><\/div>

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Frank Rutledge<\/a><\/span><\/span>2025-04-30T01:20:19+00:00<\/span>
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Brandon Rosas \u2013 Assistant Ombudsman<\/a><\/h2>

Brandon Rosas joined the Ombudsman team in January of 2021. He is a fluent Spanish speaker.<\/p><\/div><\/div>

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Frank Rutledge<\/a><\/span><\/span>2025-04-30T01:17:20+00:00<\/span>
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Yvonne Rothblum – Assistant Intake Ombudsman<\/a><\/h2>

Yvonne Rothblum joined the Ombudsman team in November 2016. She has worked in both the public and private sectors.<\/p><\/div><\/div>

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marlo-r5<\/a><\/span><\/span>2025-04-30T01:16:22+00:00<\/span>
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Marwan Al Jasim \u2013 Intern<\/a><\/h2>

Marwan Al Jasim joined the Ombudsman team in January of 2025. He is a junior at Arizona State University (ASU) pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and an interest in law, policy, and public service.<\/p><\/div><\/div>

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marlo-r5<\/a><\/span><\/span>2025-04-30T01:16:35+00:00<\/span>
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Melona Medhane \u2013 Intern<\/a><\/h2>

Melona Medhane joined the Ombudsman team in January 2025. She is a junior at Arizona State University (ASU), completing her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Justice Studies. She is also completing a certification in Cross-Sector Leadership through the Next Generation Service Corps.<\/p><\/div><\/div>

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marlo-r5<\/a><\/span><\/span>2025-04-30T01:15:33+00:00<\/span>
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