SACRAMENTO – Gov. Gavin Newsom announced today the following appointments:
Edward Swenson, a Palo Alto resident, was appointed as the Chief Deputy Director of the California Department of Motor Vehicles, a role he has served since 2021. Mr. Swenson held multiple positions at Cisco from 1991 to 2021, including Senior Director of Service Logistics. He is the Director of Customer Experience. He holds a Master of Science degree in Management and Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. The position does not require Senate approval and is paid $185,880. Swenson is a Democrat.
Sacramento resident Miles White has been appointed Under Secretary for Legislative Policy at the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Administration. Mr. White has served as Acting Under Secretary for Legislation at the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Administration since 2023 and has been Assistant Secretary for Legislation since 2017. From 2015 until 2017 he was the Project Manager for Trade and Regulatory Databases at Bryant Christie Inc. He holds a BA in Political Science from the University of California, Davis. The position does not require Senate approval and his salary is $168,008. White is a Democrat.
Arcadia’s Karin Sun has been appointed Technical Advisor II to California Public Works Commission Secretary Darcy Hawke and has been Chief of Staff to Commissioner Howuck since 2022. She was a Senior Energy Analyst for the California Public Utilities Commission. From 2020 she until 2022. From 2013 until 2020 she was a mechanical engineer at Intel Corporation and in 2016 was a mechanical engineer at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. From 2012 she served as a Senior Aerospace SSP Design Engineer until 2013. She earned her Juris Doctor degree. She graduated from Lewis and Clark Law School and earned her Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Boston University. She does not require Senate approval for the position, and her salary is $150,120. Mr. Song is a Democrat.
Maj. Gen. Matthew Beavers of Sacramento was appointed to the Governor’s Military Council. Beavers has served as deputy general of the California Department of Defense since 2023, and since 2009 has held positions such as acting deputy general, deputy general, and director of military support operations. From 2008 until 2009 he served as Director of Homeland Security Training and Exercise Programs at the California Department of Armed Forces and the California Emergency Management Agency. From 2005 until 2008, he served as Corporate He Communications Manager at Cypress He Semiconductor. Biebers said he was the marketing public relations manager for Pacifico. From 2000 he was engaged in communications until 2005. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from San Jose State University and a Master of Science in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College. This position does not require Senate approval and is not remunerated. The Beavers are Democrats.
Lindsey Singh, from Sacramento, was appointed to the Governor’s Military Council. Singh has been the California Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary since 2023 and has held positions such as Deputy Secretary of Communications and Deputy Secretary of Women and Veterans Affairs since 2011. From 2010 until 2011 she served as a Veterans Affairs Counselor at California State University, Sacramento. From 2008 to 2010 she served as the Chief Veterans Affairs Coordinator at American She River College. She served as an Arabic cryptographer interpreter with the rank of First Officer. From 1997 until 2005 she qualified as a Naval Air Warfare and Naval Air Crewman in the United States Navy. Singh holds a BA in History from California State University, Sacramento and a Master of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship from Drexel University. This position does not require Senate approval and is not remunerated. She Shin is a Democrat.
Elk Grove’s Sylvia Crockett has been appointed to the Board of the California Veterans Affairs. From 1998 to 2014, Mr. Crockett held positions with the California Department of Armed Forces, including Director of Strategic Communications, Deputy Director of Youth and Community Programs, Chief of Staff, Director of Emergency Operations, Deputy Chief of Staff, and Deputy Chief of Staff. She served in the Army National Guard from 1984 until 2016 where she served with the rank of O-7, and from 1982 until 1984 she served with the rank of E-4 in the Air National Guard. Crockett is a member of the National Service, Employment and Redevelopment Commission. American GI Forum, Cesar Chavez Chapter. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from California State University, Sacramento and a Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy from the National War College of Defense. This position requires Senate approval and is not remunerated. Crockett is a Democrat.
San Diego resident Veronica Zeller has been appointed to the California Veterans Commission. Zeller is a full-time author since 2020. She was the owner of “Scold Cat Bookstore” from 2007 to 2013. Zeller was the opinion editor of Dot magazine from 2005 to 2007, and she was a contributor to Orange County Blade magazine from 2003 to 2005. From 2001 until 2003 she served as the Development Director of the Orange She County She Center. From 1998 to 2001 she served as grant creator and development officer for her band Prairie She Potawatomi Nation. Zeller served as a planning and operations officer in the United States Army, 1st Infantry Division. She served in several positions in the Kansas Army National Guard, Unit E, 114th Cavalry from 1980 to 1984, including Reconnaissance Platoon Leader, Sergeant, and ROTC Midshipman. From 1989 until she served in 1998, she held several positions with the 35th Infantry Division, including reconnaissance platoon commander, communications officer, and company commander. From 1976 until 1980 she served as a cryptographer in the United States Navy. She is co-chair of the Benjamin F. Dillingham III and Bridget Wilson Veterans Wall of Honor Advisory Board at the San Diego LGBT Center and chairman of the Neutral Corner Center. She holds a BS in Political Science and History from Kansas State University. This position requires Senate approval and is not remunerated. Zeller is a Democrat.
Los Angeles resident Brandon Shepherd has been appointed to the California Veterans Commission. Shepard said that from 2021 he will serve as Balt’s Director of Regulatory Affairs. From 2018 until 2021 he served as Manager of Regulatory Affairs at Edwards Life Sciences. Shepard served as Senior Regulatory Affairs Specialist at Medtronic from 2016 until he was 2018 and at Avanos He Medical from 2015 until 2016. Shepard was a Quality Representative From 2012 until 2015 he was a Specialist in Warranty and Regulatory Affairs at Glidewell Dental. From 2008 until 2012 he held several positions including Quality and Regulatory Specialist and Service at Fisher and Paykel Healthcare where he was an Engineer. Shepard served in the United States Navy from 1999 until 2003 when he served in the rank of E-5. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Irvine. This position requires Senate approval and is not remunerated. Shepard is a Democrat.
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