Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner recently unveiled his three person "Turnaround Team", naming ISyE graduate Trey Childress ('00) his deputy governor. He will work with new CFO Donna Arduin and senior advisor Linda Lingle as they help the governor tackle a range of issues facing the State of Illinois.

Childress is no stranger to the inner circles of government, having served as Georgia's chief operating officer (COO) under governors Nathan Deal and Sonny Perdue. Prior to becoming COO Childress served as Perdue's state budget director. He also worked on Perdue's initial campaign for governor and while a student at Georgia Tech Childress interned in the office of former governor Zell Miller.

In a 2011 interview with the Georgia Tech Young Alumni Childress stated:

“As students, we are told often about the strength of the work ethic and the problem-solving skills that Georgia Tech builds,” Childress says. “This is very true. I found in my years working with and hiring thousands of employees that the Georgia Tech background is distinctive. Personal bias aside, one could pick out the Georgia Tech graduates often by their approach to a problem and their performance, without knowing their educational credentials.”

Recognized in 2011 by Georgia Trend as one of Georgia's 40 best and brightest under the age of 40, Childress also holds a bachelor's degree in international affairs and a master's in public policy, both from Georgia Tech.