NAPA, CA – The Napa County Board of Supervisors today named David Morrison as the County’s Interim County Executive Officer (CEO). Morrison, 61, has served as the Director of the County’s Planning, Building, and Environmental Services (PBES) Department since 2014. He replaces Becky Craig, the County’s Assistant CEO, who had been serving as Acting CEO since the departure of former CEO Minh Tran in July.
Morrison assumes the job effective October 18, 2022, and will serve until a permanent CEO is hired. Board Chair Ryan Gregory said the County has initiated a national search for that position and that Morrison has agreed to serve until that person takes the job. Both Morrison and Craig have informed the Board that they will not be candidates for the permanent position.
“The people of Napa County are fortunate to have dedicated public servants like David and Becky and the Board of Supervisors is confident that the office of the CEO will continue to run smoothly. We are grateful to Becky for the additional responsibilities she has taken on and look forward to working with David in this new role,” Gregory said.
During Morrison’s eight years with PBES, the department has updated the General Plan, prepared the Groundwater Sustainability Plan and draft Climate Action Plan, implemented a permit process improvement program, oversaw wildfire and earthquake recovery, reduced flood insurance rates, expanded public trails and parks, and strengthened code compliance.
His efforts have been recognized twice by the Governor’s Economic and Environmental Leadership Awards, as well as by the American Planning Association, the California County Planning Commissioners’ Association, and the Sacramento Area Council of Governments.
Morrison lectures annually at UC-Davis on agricultural preservation, and has made presentations at Sonoma State, Napa Valley College, and several state associations, including the California Climate Change Conference. He recently served as advisor on the Santa Clara Valley Agricultural Plan.
Previously, he was on the Board of Directors for the Cache Creek Conservancy, and served on the Woodland Flood Control Task Force, the Advisory Committee for the Putah and Cache Creek Ecotoxicity Study, and two County Tribal Task Forces.
Morrison completed his undergraduate work in art, economics, and anthropology at CSU-Fresno, where he also obtained his master’s degree in City and Regional Planning. He began his career with Fresno County before moving on to work at Tulare, Yolo, and Napa Counties. He and his family live in Napa.
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