[ST. PAUL, MN] – Governor Tim Walz announced today that Minnesota Department of Revenue (DOR) Commissioner Robert Doty will depart his position in September to serve as Chief Financial Officer at the Science Museum of Minnesota. He will continue to serve as an advisor to Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan in his capacity as a community leader in Minnesota. Commissioner Doty was appointed by Governor Walz in November 2020.

“Commissioner Doty has truly exemplified what it means to be a public servant ,” said Governor Tim Walz. “We owe many of our state’s biggest accomplishments over these past few years to his dedication and work. Commissioner Doty was crucial in navigating the pandemic, passing frontline worker payments, and growing Minnesota’s thriving economy. I look forward to seeing what’s next for Robert and am grateful he will serve as an advisor.”

“We will greatly miss Commissioner Doty’s leadership and passion for this work,” said Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. “Commissioner Doty not only made historic strides for Minnesota in the most unprecedented years but also worked enterprise-wide to help state employees navigate systemic barriers. I wish Commissioner Doty all the best as he brings his wealth of knowledge and experience to serve even more people in future endeavors, and I look forward to partnering to make Minnesota the best it can be.”

“I am grateful for the opportunity provided to me by Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan to serve as the Commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Revenue,” said Commissioner Robert Doty. “It has truly been an honor to serve people in Minnesota and to positively impact their lives. I am proud of the work accomplished over my tenure at Revenue, specifically the programs that provided relief to Minnesotans during the pandemic including successful distribution of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to counties and cities, COVID-19 business relief payments, COVID-19 Tribal Relations Grants, and now the Frontline Worker Payments as well as the efforts to engrain equity into the work of tax administration and the creation of the Office of Public Engagement. This experience has been the high point of my career. I am forever grateful for all the hard work, dedication, and support of the staff at Revenue and throughout the enterprise. I will miss this work and the interactions with all my colleagues through the enterprise.”

About Robert Doty

Commissioner Doty oversees the day-to-day operations for an agency with more than 1,400 employees that manages over 30 different taxes and collects over $26 billion annually. Before his appointment to commissioner, Doty served as assistant commissioner at Revenue. In that role, he oversaw the work of public policy and engagement, and was responsible for the work of the Tax Research, Appeals and Legal Services, and Legislative divisions.

Doty brought extensive experience in the non- and for-profit business sectors, with particular expertise in change management, strategic planning, systems design, marketing, communications, information technology, operations, human resources, and finance. Before joining Revenue in 2019, Doty was the executive director of the Minnesota State Lottery. He also served as the chief operations officer and chief financial officer for the Minneapolis Public Schools.

About the Department of Revenue

The Minnesota Department of Revenue manages the state’s revenue system and administers state tax laws. Its mission is to ensure fairness, accuracy, and efficiency in the state’s revenue system and provide Minnesotans with services that foster a productive and healthy work environment.

Commissioner Doty’s last day as commissioner will be September 2, 2022. Deputy Commissioner Lee Ho will serve as temporary commissioner through the remainder of Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan’s first term.