Executive Staff
David Swindell – Executive Director
David Swindell serves as the tenth Executive Director of the Wyoming Retirement System, being appointed by the board on August 1, 2019. As Executive Director, he is responsible for running the $10 billion system, which serves about 42,000 public employees in Wyoming and 36,000 retirees. Director Swindell manages the staff and day-to-day operations, and also serves as WRS board secretary.
He comes to the position of Executive Director after serving five years as the system’s Deputy Director. He served 22 years in the U.S. Army, retiring with a rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Prior to serving WRS, Dave was the Chief Financial Officer for the City of Pocatello, ID. His education includes a MPA with concentration in economics from Princeton University and a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
He is a member of the Government Finance Officers Association, Association of Government Accountants and is a Certified Government Finance Manager (CGFM). His arrival at the Wyoming Retirement System marked a return to the state, as he was raised in Riverton, WY and was appointed to the Military Academy from Riverton High School. Dave and his spouse Jill enjoy travel, skiing and fly fishing, where they amuse the local trout with their efforts.
Rachel Meeker – Deputy Director / Chief Financial Officer
Rachel Meeker, a Wyoming native, has dedicated her expertise to the Wyoming Retirement System (WRS), joining in May 2020 as Internal Audit Manager and quickly progressing to Deputy Director/Chief Financial Officer in August 2023. With over two decades of comprehensive business and accounting experience spanning both public and private sectors, and holding a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration, Rachel brings invaluable insight to her role. She is responsible for leading the Finance and Accounting, Investment Accounting, Employer Reporting, Retiree Services, and Information Technology teams. Rachel is honored to contribute to the WRS vision, diligently working to build and secure the financial future for members and their families through diligent oversight and operational excellence.
Samantha Mills – Chief Benefits Officer
Samantha Mills joined the Wyoming Retirement System (WRS) team in July 2023 as the Deferred Compensation Manager prior to taking on her current role as the agency’s first Chief Benefits Officer. Samantha oversees all of the public facing teams housed within WRS including the Pension Benefits Team, the Deferred Compensation Team, Education Services and the Communications Team. Having graduated from the University of Wyoming, Samantha has served the State in various roles, within the legislative and executive branches of government since 2005. As a lifelong Wyomingite, Samantha enjoys sharing the love of this State with her family and finds fulfillment in serving those who make it their life’s mission to serve others.
Sam Masoudi, CFA, CAIA – Chief Investment Officer
Sam Masoudi has 27 years of financial industry experience. He has been the CIO for the Wyoming Retirement System since 2013. Prior to that, he served as a Managing Director of Tulane University’s endowment fund for five years. He was a founder and portfolio manager for eight years at the hedge fund Silver Peak.
Sam’s other investment experience includes three years at Veronis Suhler Stevenson (private equity fund) as a director, and four years as an assistant vice president in real estate investment banking at PaineWebber and Kidder Peabody, two New York based investment banks.
Sam received his B.S. in Finance and Investing from Babson College. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designations.
Benjamin L. Brandes – General Counsel
Benjamin L. Brandes has served as General Counsel to the Wyoming Retirement System since October 2010. In this capacity, Brandes provides legal advice to the System on all investment, administrative and operational matters. He also advises the Wyoming Retirement Board of Trustees.
Prior to joining WRS, Brandes served as legal counsel to the National Mining Association in Washington, D.C. He also has several years of prior public service to the State of Wyoming in a variety of capacities, including as a policy adviser to Governor Freudenthal.
Brandes earned a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Colorado at Boulder and his JD from the University of Wyoming in 2004. He is an active member of the Wyoming Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the National Association of Public Pension Attorneys.
Rachel Kelley – Staff Development, Executive & Board Administrator
Rachel Kelley has been with the Wyoming Retirement System (WRS) since 2015. Beginning her tenure as a Legal & Executive Support Specialist, she transitioned to the role of Staff Development & Executive Administrator in 2019, focusing on human resources and board administration. Rachel holds an A.S. in Business Administration from Laramie County Community College and a B.A. in International Studies with a minor in Spanish from the University of Wyoming. Prior to joining WRS, Rachel served as the Director of Member Services for the Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association for over 5 years. She currently contributes to the broader pension industry as a Program Director for the National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems (NCPERS).
Adam Waddell – Audit Manager
Adam Waddell serves as the Internal Audit Manager for the Wyoming Retirement System, where he plays a crucial role in enhancing operational efficiency and compliance. A proud graduate of the University of Wyoming, Adam earned his degree while also distinguishing himself as a collegiate basketball athlete. This background instilled a strong foundation of teamwork, discipline, and strategic thinking, qualities that are instrumental in his current role. Adam is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accountability within the agency.
Managers
Education Program Manager – Sabra Fowler
Deferred Compensation Manager – Jessica Abbott
Communications Manager – Kristin Kasper
Pension Benefits Manager – Amanda Roberts
Member Accounting Manager – Danielle Venegas
Business Integration Manager – Dale Meyer
Finance Manager – Andrea Odell
Investment Accounting Manager – Karla Crocker
Investment Operations and Risk Manager – Josh Keefe