David Gutierrez

David Gutierrez received his bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences from UC Davis and obtained his graduate degree in Biology from Towson University in Baltimore, Maryland. He has 7 years of experience in Biological Safety Level 3 & 4 (BSL-3/4) laboratories conducting research on the microbiology and physiology of highly pathogenic bacterial and viral diseases. His educational experience has proven to be a great asset since his scientific training has helped to establish policies to protect the agricultural industry and the food supply. Before his time at the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA), he never thought he would work for the state or the government in general. However, during his time in graduate school, he was recruited by the Department of Defense after the 9/11 attacks to conduct biodefense research for the United States government and reported to the Pentagon.

For 14 years in the Federal government, he worked for the Defense Intelligence Agency and later became a U.S. diplomat for the United States with the Department of State. As a diplomat, he directed biological and chemical defense programs and was deployed to Pakistan, Libya, and other nations to build scientific collaboration. He then worked for the Director of National Intelligence under the Obama administration and the National Security Council on biological policy directives. Eventually, he left Federal service and returned to California to take care of his mom. From there, he began his state service and was appointed to the California Department of Conservation in 2017. In 2019, he began to work for the CDFA as the Branch Chief of the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Division (CPDPD) and is currently the Interim Director of CPDPD. Fulfilled by his job, he is satisfied how his professional experience has had a worldwide impact conducting counterterrorism operations, drafting national biological strategies and policies, and combating agroterrorism. He is particularly proud of how his team has worked with the citrus industry, academia, stakeholders, and residents to keep California's commercial citrus the best in the world.