SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments:
Diana Dooley, 67, of Sacramento, has been appointed Executive Secretary in the Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. Dooley has served as Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency since 2011. She was president and chief executive officer of the California Children’s Hospital Association from 2006 to 2011 and general counsel and vice president of Valley Children’s Hospital from 2000 to 2006. Dooley was a partner in the law firm Paden and Dooley from 1998 to 2000, was the research attorney for the Tulare County Superior Court from 1996 to 1998 and owned Dooley/Hill and Associates, a public relations and advertising agency in Visalia, from 1985 to 1995. She served as legislative director and special assistant in the Office of Governor Brown from 1975 to 1983 and was an analyst at the State Personnel Board from 1974 to 1975. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the San Joaquin College of Law. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $201,876. Dooley is a Democrat.
Michael Wilkening, 47, of Elk Grove, has been appointed Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, where he has served as undersecretary since 2008. He served in several positions at the California Department of Finance from 1995 to 2008, including program budget manager for the Health and Human Services Unit. Wilkening is executive sponsor of the California Health and Human Services Open Data Initiative and Agency Technology Governance Council. He earned a Master of Arts degree in political science from the University of California, Davis. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $201,869. Wilkening is a Republican.
Michelle Baass, 44, of Sacramento, has been appointed undersecretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, where she has served as deputy secretary of the Office of Program and Fiscal Affairs since 2017. Baass served as deputy director at the California State Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review from 2016 to 2017, where she was principal consultant from 2012 to 2016. She was deputy director at the California State Senate Office of Research from 2011 to 2012, where she was principal consultant from 2008 to 2011. Baass was a senior fiscal and policy analyst at the California Legislative Analyst’s Office from 2004 to 2008. She was a manager and consultant for Accenture from 1996 to 2004. Baass earned a Master of Public Policy and Administration degree from California State University, Sacramento. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $176,040. Baass is a Democrat.
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