Tennessee Code Title 4. State Government § 4-3-121

(a)(1) The commissioners of the administrative departments of the state government created by this chapter shall be the administrative heads of those departments. They shall have charge and general supervision of their respective departments.

(2) The officers and employees of the various departments established by this chapter shall be under the supervision, direction and control of the commissioners of their respective departments and shall perform such duties as the commissioners may prescribe.

(b)(1) Each staff division of the governor's office shall have as its chief executive officer a staff director who shall be appointed by the governor for a term to expire with the beginning of the term of the governor next elected, or whenever the staff director's successor shall be appointed and qualified, and who shall hold office at the pleasure of the governor.

(2) Staff directors shall have charge and general supervision of their respective divisions and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties in regard thereto as are vested therein by law, and shall receive compensation in the amount provided by § 8-23-101 for commissioners of departments.

(3) Staff directors, with respect to their divisions, shall be subject to all laws applying generally to commissioners of administrative departments, and staff divisions shall be subject to all laws applying generally to state administrative departments.