Kentucky Attorney General Appointed New Prosecution Leads
Attorney General Russell Coleman named Ramsey Dallam and Todd Willard to top roles within the Special Prosecutions Unit.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in People
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman has appointed Ramsey Dallam as the new executive director of the Special Prosecutions Unit. Todd Willard will serve as the deputy director for the unit.
Why it matters
The appointments follow the transition of former director Tim Cocanougher, who led the office for five years and will now move to a senior advisor role within the Criminal Division.
Tim Cocanougher served as the executive director of the Special Prosecutions Unit for five years prior to this leadership transition. The office oversees state-level criminal prosecutions across Kentucky.
The players
Russell Coleman
He is the Attorney General of Kentucky who oversees the state's top legal office and prosecution units.
Ramsey Dallam
She is the newly appointed executive director of the Special Prosecutions Unit who has worked with the Attorney General's Office since 2022.
Todd Willard
He is the new deputy director of the Special Prosecutions Unit who previously served in Fayette County.
Tim Cocanougher
He is the outgoing executive director of the Special Prosecutions Unit who will continue his service as a senior advisor to the Criminal Division.
The details
Ramsey Dallam, who has served in the state Attorney General's Office since 2022, previously worked as a prosecutor in Texas and as an Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney in Christian County. Todd Willard, who joined the unit in February 2024, brings experience from his previous role as an assistant commonwealth's attorney in Fayette County.
Timeline
Dallam began working with the state Attorney General's Office in 2022.
Willard began his tenure with the unit in February 2024.
The appointments of Dallam and Willard were announced on October 2, 2026.
Market Landscape
These leadership changes reflect the internal administrative shifts within the Kentucky Attorney General's Office as it manages state-level legal operations. The transition follows established institutional patterns for filling high-level legal vacancies within the state government.
The new appointments are an internal staffing move that does not change the services or legal processes residents encounter in local courts. These leadership roles primarily manage internal case assignments and office operations for the Attorney General.
The takeaway
Leadership transitions within state prosecution units are routine administrative actions intended to maintain the operational continuity of the justice system. The appointment of experienced local prosecutors suggests a focus on maintaining expertise within the Special Prosecutions Unit.
Further reading
For more on changes to state government leadership, visit Kentucky People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Whopam.
