Northport Native, Acting Army Secretary Adam Telle To Headline Chamber Event

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Northport native Adam Telle, who was appointed acting secretary of the U.S. Army in September, has been announced as the keynote speaker for a Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama's Federal Affairs Briefing.

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The Chamber in Session: Federal Affairs Briefing is set for Friday, Nov. 20, at 8 a.m. at the Tuscaloosa River Market.

The Chamber says the event will focus on federal priorities, national defense and issues affecting businesses and communities across West Alabama.

As Patch previously reported, President Donald Trump designated Telle acting secretary of the Army on Sept. 3, following the departure of Dan Driscoll.

The appointment marked a rapid rise for the 2000 TCHS graduate, who was first nominated by Trump in March 2025 to serve as assistant secretary of the Army for civil works, the top civilian position overseeing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

In his current role, Telle oversees operations, modernization and resource allocation for nearly one million active-duty, National Guard and Reserve soldiers, along with more than 265,000 Army civilian employees.

The Tuscaloosa County High School alumnus graduated from Mississippi State University in 2005 with degrees in journalism and computer science before embarking on a career in Washington spanning more than two decades.

His résumé includes working for Republican U.S. Sens. Richard Shelby of Alabama and Thad Cochran of Mississippi, along with serving as chief of staff for U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tennessee.

Telle also spent 18 months in the White House during Trump's first term, leading Senate operations in the Office of Legislative Affairs and serving as the president's chief liaison to the Senate.

The Chamber's upcoming briefing will provide an opportunity for local business and community leaders to hear directly from Telle about federal issues and their potential impact on the region.

The event is the latest addition to the Chamber's Chamber in Session series, which includes annual gatherings such as State of the Community, State of the Economy and State of the State.

Registration is $50 for Chamber members and $70 for nonmembers.

Those interested in attending can register here.

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