VRS is an independent state agency, governed by the provisions of Title 51.1 of the Code of Virginia and other applicable law. The Board of Trustees administers and is trustee of the Virginia Retirement System Trust.
Board of Trustees
Nine members serve on the Board of Trustees. Their appointments are shared between the executive and legislative branches of state government.
Contact Board of Trustees
Board of Trustees
Virginia Retirement System
P.O. Box 2500
Richmond, VA 23218
O'Kelly E. McWilliams, III, Esq.
Chair
Mintz
Joseph W. Montgomery
Vice Chair
The Optimal Service Group of Wells Fargo Advisors
The Hon. J. Brandon Bell, II
Board Member
Brandon Bell Financial Partners
John M. Bennett
Board Member
Virginia Commonwealth University (Retired)
Michael P. Disharoon
Board Member
Palladium Registered Investment Advisors
William A. Garrett
Board Member
City of Manassas
Susan T. Gooden, Ph.D.
Board Member
Virginia Commonwealth University
W. Brett Hayes
Board Member
Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network
Troilen Gainey Seward, Ed.S.
Board Member
Dinwiddie County Public Schools (Retired)Executive Staff
The board appoints the VRS director, who serves as chief administrative officer, as well as the chief investment officer and the internal audit director.
Investment Advisory Committee
The Investment Advisory Committee (IAC) is responsible for monitoring investments and investment opportunities and making asset allocation recommendations to the Board of Trustees.
Contact Investment Advisory Committee
Investment Advisory Committee
Virginia Retirement System
P.O. Box 2500
Richmond, VA 23218
Lawrence E. Kochard, Ph.D., Chair
Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director, Makena Capital Management
Hance West, Vice Chair
CIO and Managing Director, Investure
Michael Beasley
Retired Chairman Emeritus, Strategic Investment Solutions, Inc.
Theodore Economou
Head of Asset Management, Symbiotics
(Switzerland) SA
Thomas S. Gayner
President and Chief Investment Officer, Markel Corporation
Deborah Allen Hewitt, Ph.D.
Retired Clinical Professor, The College of William and Mary
Nancy G. Leake
Advisory Partner, Partners Group (USA) Inc.
W. Bryan Lewis
Vice President & Chief Investment Officer, United States Steel Corporation
Rod Smyth
Chief Investment Strategist, Riverfront Investment Group
DC Plans Advisory Committee
The Defined Contribution Plans Advisory Committee is responsible for providing plan administration, plan design and investment recommendations to the Board of Trustees.
Contact DCP Advisory Committee
Defined Contribution Plans Advisory Committee
Virginia Retirement System
P.O. Box 2500
Richmond, VA 23218
The Hon. J. Brandon Bell, II
Chair, Member, VRS Board of Trustees, Brandon Bell Financial Partners
Susan T. Gooden, Ph.D.
Vice Chair, Member, VRS Board of Trustees, Virginia Commonwealth University
Ravindra Deo
Executive Director, Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board
Shannon T. Irvin
Assistant Superintendent for Administration, Nelson County Public Schools
Rick Larson
Assistant Vice President for Human Resources, Training and Performance, James Madison University
Brenda O. Madden
Senior Vice President and Human Resources Director, Davenport & Company
David A. Winter
Owner, Winter HR Consulting, LLC