Brett P. Giroir was named by Gov. Rick Perry to direct the newly created Texas Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response. A week after the country's first case of Ebola appeared in Dallas, the 17-member task force is charged with better equipping the state to handle a pandemic. Membership includes the heads of agencies who would be involved in pandemic response as well as public health experts and epidemiologists. The group will prepare two reports with findings and recommendations — the first one due Dec. 1 and the second one due Feb. 1.

Surendra Varma of Lubbock was named by Perry to the Texas Medical Board for a term to expire April 13, 2019.

Newly sworn-in state Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, has been tapped to join the Senate Higher Education Committee, taking the seat held previously by his predecessor, Robert Duncan.

Marti Johnson has joined Houston-based Strategic Public Affairs as a director after stints in the Texas Department of Agriculture and the staff of state Sen. Glenn Hegar, R-Katy.

Caroline Joiner was named executive director for Texas and the southeast region for TechNet, a group dedicated to growing the technology industry. Joiner served in the George W. Bush White House at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Since 2009, she has been an independent government affairs consultant. Her clients include the Texas Cable Association and National Instruments.

Garrett Groves is joining the staff of the Center for Public Policy Priorities next week as Program Director for Economic Opportunity. He is a former National Governors Association (NGA) senior policy analyst.

Gary Grief, executive director of the Texas Lottery, has been inducted into the Public Gaming Research Institute's Lottery Industry Hall of Fame. Grief has served as the Lottery's executive director since March 2010.

Deaths: Harley Clark of Austin, 78, retired district judge and the man credited with inventing the Hook 'Em Horns sign, the singular gesture of dedication performed by UT fans.

Disclosure: The Texas Cable Association is a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Texas Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.