Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California's rural counties.

 

Sean Duryee, of Galt, has been appointed as Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol where he has served as Acting Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol since January 2023. He served in several positions at CHP from 1998 to 2022, including Deputy Commissioner, Executive Assistant to the Commissioner, Special Representative to the Legislature, Commander of the Department’s Commercial Vehicle Section, Academy Instructor and Cadet. He is a coach for the Liberty Ranch High School Girls Varsity Basketball Team. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $315,348. Duryee is registered without party preference.

 

Justin Matthews, of Salinas, has been appointed to the Dental Hygiene Board of California. He has been an Associate Professor of General Experimental Psychology at California State University, Monterey Bay since 2014 and a Subject Matter Expert for the Monterey County Department of Human Resources since 2019. He was a Commissioner and Vice Chairperson for the Monterey County Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights Advisory Commission from 2016 to 2021. Matthews was a Teaching Fellow and Staff Research Associate at University of California, Merced from 2005 to 2014 and a Lecturer at California State University, Fresno from 2005 to 2006. Matthews earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Cognitive and Information Sciences and a Master of Science degree in Social and Cognitive Sciences from the University of California, Merced. He earned a Master of Arts degree in Experimental Psychology from California State University, Fresno. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Matthews is a Democrat.