SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments.
George Kenline, 49, of Yucaipa, has been appointed to the State Mining and Geology Board. Kenline has been senior environmental services supervisor at Molycorp Inc. since 2012. He was a mining and engineering geologist for San Bernardino County from 2006 to 2012 and an associate geologist at Secor International Inc. from 1993 to 2006. Kenline is a member of the Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists, Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration Inc. and the California Groundwater Resources Association. He is a registered engineering geologist and hydrogeologist. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Kenline is registered decline-to-state.
John Lane, 48, of Butte, has been appointed to the State Mining and Geology Board, where he has served since 2009. Lane has been principal at Chico Environmental Science and Planning LLP since 2002. He was senior hydrogeologist at Stetson Engineers Inc. from 2000 to 2002 and staff geologist at URS Corporation from 1998 to 2000. Lane was a staff geologist at Weber Hayes and Associates from 1995 to 1996 and a staff scientist at AGEISS Environmental from 1993 to 1995. He earned a Master of Science degree in geoscience from California State University, Chico. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Lane is a Democrat.
Negar Noushkam, 38, of Cerritos, has been appointed to the State Mining and Geology Board. Noushkam has been senior principal engineer and space environment scientist at Orbital Sciences Corp. since 2012. She was lead space environment scientist and engineer at the Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems from 2006 to 2012 and senior project manager and engineer at Environmental Remediation Services Inc. from 2007 to 2011. Noushkam was lead photovoltaic design engineer at Northrop Grumman Space Technology from 2004 to 2006 and environmental compliance manager and lead security assessor at Hudson Marine Management Services from 2001 to 2004. She was environmental project manager and a process engineer at Exxon Mobil Oil Corporation from 1997 to 2001. Noushkam is a trustee at the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District Board. She earned a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Noushkam is a Democrat.
Carol Gallegos, 49, of Sacramento, has been appointed deputy director of legislative and governmental affairs at the California Department of Health Care Services. Gallegos has served in multiple positions at the California Department of Health Care Services since 1995, including assistant division chief of the long term care division and assistant deputy director of legislative and governmental affairs. She served as an associate governmental program analyst in the Medi-Cal contracting section at the California Department of Health from 1994 to 1995 and in the case development branch of the California Department of Toxic Substances Control from 1993 to 1994. She was a staff services analyst and associate governmental program analyst in the licensing and certification division of the California Department of Health from 1990 to 1993. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $110,040. Gallegos is a Democrat.
Stuart Farber, 50, of Redding, has been appointed to the California State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection. Farber has been a wildlife biologist at W.M. Beaty and Associates Inc. since 2010. He was a wildlife and fisheries forester at the Timber Products Company from 1995 to 2010 and a senior resource forester at Plum Creek Timber Company from 1988 to 1995. Farber is a member of the Klamath-Cascade Advisory Council of the Pacific Forest Trust and the California Licensed Foresters Association. He has been a registered professional forester since 1997. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Farber is a Democrat.
J. Keith Gilless, 57, of San Francisco, has been appointed chair of the California State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection. Gilless has served on the board since 2011. He has been the dean of the College of Natural Resources since 2008 and professor of forest economics since 1983 at the University of California, Berkeley. He earned a doctorate in forestry and agricultural economics at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. The designation as chair does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Gilless is a Democrat.
Mary Rickert, 60, of Fall River Mills, has been appointed to the California State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection. Rickert has been co-owner of both Western Agricultural Services and Prather Ranch since 1982. She is a member of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, Shasta Land Trust and Shasta Regional Community Foundation. Rickert is the Shasta County Committee Chair of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency. She was a member of the Shasta County Mental Health Board from 2000 to 2010. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Rickert is a Republican.
Bruce Saito, 61, of Long Beach, has been appointed to the California State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, where he has served since 2005. Saito has served as executive director at the Los Angeles Conservation Corps since 1995, where he was deputy director from 1986 to 1995. Saito was program manager at the California Conservation Corps from 1976 to 1986. He is a board member of the Los Angeles River Revitalization Corporation, Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust Board and California Prison Industry Authority. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Saito is a Democrat.