Office of the Attorney General
Attorney General Conway Hires Senior Staff

Attorney Jack Conway today announced the appointments of three Kentuckians to serve in key positions in his senior-level staff.

“I am honored to have professionals of this caliber on my staff that are committed to serving the people of Kentucky and moving our state forward,” Conway said.

Conway has appointed Bob Foster as the chief investigator of the Attorney General’s office.  For the past five years, Foster served as the federal security director of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in Kentucky.  Foster was responsible for security at the Louisville International, Owensboro, Paducah and Lexington airports.

“Bob’s experience in protecting the public and creating partnerships is important in a time of tightening budgets and dwindling resources,” Conway said.  “Bob will coordinate our efforts with local, state and federal law enforcement officers to keep drugs out of our communities and crack down on internet crimes.”

Prior to his service with the TSA, Foster spent almost 30 years with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).  Foster served as a special agent in the Washington Field Office and later was a member of the agency’s Hostage Rescue Team, helping provide security for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.  In 1987, Foster was transferred to the FBI’s Frankfort office where he specialized in public corruption and fraudulent business investigations.

“Bob’s work as an investigator lead to the indictments and convictions of several public officials and questionable business owners who took advantage of our citizens’ trust,” Conway said.  “I have no doubt he will bring that same commitment to our office and will work to protect the citizens of this Commonwealth.”

In 1995, Foster was promoted to Supervisory Senior Agent, where he oversaw daily operations of the Lexington and Frankfort FBI offices.

Foster is a native of Louisville and a graduate of Western Kentucky University.

Conway also named Tad Thomas as director of Civil and Environmental Law.  Thomas is a private attorney who specializes in civil litigation.  Thomas is a native of Louisville and received his undergraduate degree from Georgetown College.  He is a cum laude graduate of Northern Kentucky University’s Salmon P. Chase College of Law.  Thomas is a member of the Louisville, Kentucky and American Bar associations.

Thomas and Foster will begin their duties on Wednesday, January 16.

Allison Gardner Martin will serve as Conway’s communications director.  Martin previously served as deputy communications director for Louisville Metro Mayor Jerry Abramson.  Prior to her position in the Abramson administration, Martin was a television reporter and anchor for WBKO-TV in Bowling Green and WLKY-TV in Louisville.  Martin, a native of Barren County, is a graduate of Glasgow High School and received her journalism degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.

“The insight, knowledge and guidance that these staff members bring to our office will help keep Kentucky families safe and assist me in educating the public about our priorities and new initiatives,” Conway said.

Conway previously named Dana Bynum Mayton as his Deputy Attorney General.  Mayton was the vice president of governmental relations for the University of Louisville.  She is a resident of Shelbyville and the former director of the Kentucky Revenue Commission.