PIERRE, S.D. – Governor-elect Kristi Noem today announced that Sheriff Michael Leidholt will join her administration as Secretary of the Department of Corrections. Leidholt will follow outgoing Cabinet Secretary Denny Kaemingk who also celebrated his retirement recently.
Leidholt has served in law enforcement since 1975, and is currently the Hughes County Sheriff a post he has held for 24 years. Throughout his career, Leidholt has pioneered efforts to bring the D.A.R.E. program to South Dakota and has led the state in bringing awareness to challenges facing Indian Country and mental health across the state.