Vicky Waters began her career as an editor and broadcast Operator for WRAL-TV in Raleigh North Carolina in 1996 and was recently, until her appointment here with the County, the Deputy Cabinet Secretary handling public safety issues for the Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom, a position she held since April 2023.

Some highlights of her professional accomplishments are:

• Six-time Governor appointee for high-level policy and communications positions across State government.
• Familiar with public safety and criminal justice issues at the state and local level.
• Recently led Governor’s efforts as Deputy Cabinet Secretary in public safety, including deployment of CHP to key cities to assist with local retail theft, as well as San Quentin State Prison’s transformation.
• Previously served as Governor Newsom’s Press Secretary (second Latina to serve in that role in California history).
• Developed and executed award winning proactive media and social media campaigns (PR Week US Awards, Best in Public Sector 2017; Telly Award 2012).

Ms. Waters is bilingual (English and Spanish) and a bicultural Latina with a proven track record of professional communications and policy experience. She has also worked in private, nonprofit, and public sectors, and for several years, worked in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation dealing with high-stakes crisis communications. She has additionally been appointed to several high-level press, communications and policy positions by Governors Edmund G. Brown, Jr. and Gavin Newsom as indicated above.

Ms. Waters’ experience in strategic communications, press/media, political acumen, and background in public safety and criminal justice issues, as well as her strong commitment to public service, makes her an excellent selection for the team.