Lynnae Ruttledge has been appointed as the new Commissioner of the Department of Education Rehabilitation Services Administration by President Barack Obama.
Ruttledge served as the Director of the Washington Department of Social and Health Service, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation since 2005. She was responsible for leading Washington’s vocational rehabilitation program – working annually with over 23,000 individuals with significant disabilities to achieve their vocational goals. Previously, Ruttledge served in leadership positions at the Oregon Department of Human Services, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services for more than 25 years. Ruttledge received the Washington Governor’s Award for Leadership in Management in 2007.
As a person born with a disability, Ruttledge received assistance from the vocational rehabilitation program and graduated from the Northern Michigan University with a B.A. in Education.