Edward C. Brown

Edward C. Brown was appointed Chief of the Office of Civil Rights at the California Department of Food and Agriculture in March 2026.

Edward brings over a decade of progressive leadership experience in human resources, equal employment opportunity, and organizational effectiveness across California state and local government. He holds a bachelor's degree in human resources management and a State Personnel Board Hearing Advocacy Certificate. He has built a career centered on fostering equitable, compliant, and high-performing workplaces.

Edward previously served as the Chief of the Office of Discipline Services at Caltrans, where he directed the department's statewide progressive discipline program. In this capacity, he advised executive leadership on complex employee conduct matters, ensured adherence to legal and due process standards, and represented the department in administrative hearings and proceedings. Before that, he managed the Office of Human Resources and Business Operations for the Employment Training Panel, ensuring smooth administrative and HR functions for a statewide workforce training program. He also has experience with the Department of Water Resources, where he supported critical classification and succession planning initiatives designed to strengthen the department's workforce strategy and long-term organizational readiness, as well as gaining valuable investigative expertise from his earlier role as an EEO Investigator for the County of Sacramento.

His leadership is grounded in a deep understanding of public sector operations and a dedication to upholding the principles of civil rights for all employees. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Edward is the proud father of five sons and an enthusiastic fan of Halloween, one of his favorite times of the year.