Alabama Real Estate Commission Executive Director Dr. Vaughn T. Poe is one of 47 public servants selected by The Council of State Governments (CSG) for the 2026 class of the CSG Henry Toll Fellowship. Representing 32 states and U.S. territories and all three branches of state government, the fellows will gather in Lexington, Kentucky, Aug. 21-25.
The Toll Fellowship recognizes a select group of public servants who have demonstrated exceptional promise and a commitment to collaborative leadership and public service. Through an immersive leadership experience, fellows strengthen their communication, collaboration and decision-making skills while building lasting, nonpartisan relationships with peers from across the country.
“Being selected for the Henry Toll Fellowship is an incredible honor,” said Dr. Poe. “I am grateful for the opportunity to represent the Alabama Real Estate Commission and the State of Alabama on the national stage. I look forward to bringing new perspectives, ideas, and relationships back to Alabama that will strengthen the work we do on behalf of our consumers and real estate professionals.”
Dr. Poe is a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer with a 33-year history of public service across all three branches of government. With a passion for agriculture and computer science, Poe has consistently sought greater leadership responsibility to better serve the public. Vaughn served on the Alabama Real Estate Commission as consumer-at-large commissioner from 2017 to 2019, and he also served as the commission’s chief policy officer from 2019 to 2020. In May 2020, Vaughn replaced Pat Anderson as executive director.
His political bona fides include service on the national boards of directors of organizations focused on agriculture, real estate regulation, and nonprofit affairs. Vaughn has also held several leadership positions within the Alabama Republican Party, including county chairman and district secretary/treasurer. He currently serves on the ALGOP State Steering Committee as chairman of the 7th Congressional District.
His academic accolades include a Doctorate in Information Assurance (Cyber Security) from the University of Fairfax, graduate certificates in Cyber Security Best Practices and Information Security Professional Practices (ISPP), a Master of Arts in Information Technology Management from Webster University in St. Louis, a Bachelor of Science in Management/Computer Information Systems from Park University, where he graduated magna cum laude, and an Associate of Science in Applied Sciences in Occupational Technology from Technical College of the Lowcountry (TCL) in Beaufort, South Carolina.
Never one to be bored, Dr. Poe maintains an impressive list of professional memberships, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation Citizens Academy Alumni Association (FBICAAA), FBI InfraGard, Information Systems Security Association (ISSA), Cyber Huntsville, Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC), Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), and the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO).
Dr. Poe is also actively involved in numerous civic, community, agricultural, veterans, and professional organizations. His affiliations include the National Association of RC&D Councils (NARC&DC), where he formerly served as first vice president; Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee (ALSWCC); Boys & Girls Club of West Alabama Board of Directors; West Alabama Veterans Action Board, where he serves as co-chair; Hale County Soil & Water Conservation District, where he serves as a board supervisor; Tombigbee Resource Conservation and Development Council (TRC&D); Greene County Chamber of Commerce; Eutaw Historical Society; American Legion; Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW); National Rifle Association (NRA) Life Member; Alabama Farmers Federation (ALFA) Board Member; Alabama Cattlemen’s Association; Greene County Cattlemen’s Association; International Brangus Breeders Association; Alabama Brangus Breeders Association; Southeastern Brangus Breeders Association; United States Parachute Association (USPA); and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Life Member.
Vaughn and his wife, Rebekah, make their home in West Alabama, where they share their lives with two dogs, Peaches and Luna; two cats, Mouse and TigerCat; two horses, Maggie and Apache; ten laying hens; and three herds of cattle.
Dr. Poe’s interests are as varied as his professional pursuits. His activities include registered cattle farming, traditional English fox hunting, and social debate. His past pursuits include Accelerated Freefall (AFF) skydiving and white-hat hacking.
CSG Executive Director/CEO David Adkins, a former Kansas state senator and 1993 CSG Henry Toll Fellow alumnus, emphasized the importance of preparing leaders who can navigate today’s challenges.
“The Toll Fellowship equips some of the nation’s most promising leaders with the relationships, perspectives and skills needed to bring people together, solve problems and strengthen public service,” said CSG Executive Director/CEO David Adkins, a former Kansas state senator and 1993 CSG Henry Toll Fellow alumnus. “CSG is honored to recognize this exceptional class and invest in their continued growth as leaders committed to serving their states and communities.”
Named in honor of CSG founder Henry Toll, a former Colorado state senator, the fellowship reflects his belief that strong states depend on leaders working together across branches, parties and state lines.
Fellows are selected through a competitive nomination and review process led by Henry Toll Fellowship alumni. Since its founding in 1986, the program has prepared more than 1,400 public servants nationwide.
Alumni include governors, lieutenant governors, attorneys general, secretaries of state, state treasurers, legislative leaders, state supreme court justices and hundreds of state and territorial legislators who continue to serve with integrity, work across differences and champion excellence in state government.
