Gary S. Winuk

Chief Deputy Director

Gary Winuk was appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Chief Deputy Director of the Governor's Office of Homeland Security (OHS) in March, 2005 after serving as acting in that capacity since January, 2004. OHS is responsible for the coordination of all State homeland security efforts, including its core areas of: threat assessment, critical infrastructure protection, training and exercises, and homeland security grants management He is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Office and its $350 million budget and 150 staff. Gary has worked for OHS since its inception and served as a gubernatorial homeland security advisor in California since shortly after 9/11.

Prior to serving at OHS, Gary was a Deputy Director of the Governor's Office of Criminal Justice Planning, appointed by Governor Gray Davis. He has worked as Deputy District Attorney in San Joaquin County and as a Legislative Aide in the California State Assembly for then-Assemblywoman Juanita Millender-McDonald.

Gary holds a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and a J.D., with distinction, from the McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. He has also completed the Executive Crisis Management course at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Gary has served as a lecturer on homeland security issues at the IDC Hertzliya Counter-Terrorism Institute in Israel, the USC CREATE Homeland Security Executive Leadership Program, the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General's School, CSU San Diego, and CSU Sacramento, among others.

Gary serves as a Captain in the California Air National Guard, serving in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps since February, 2003. He is currently assigned as the Assistant Staff Judge Advocate for the 129th Rescue Wing at Moffett Federal Airfield in Mountain View. He has been awarded the Army Commendation Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, State Medal of Merit, State Service Ribbon, and State Drill Attendance Ribbon.