Governor Newsom announces appointments 4.18.25

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:

Brian Kaplun, of San Francisco, has been appointed Deputy Secretary for Policy and Strategic Planning at the Health and Human Services Agency. Kaplun held several roles at the United States Department of Health and Human Services from 2022 to 2025, including Senior Advisor and Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Office of the Secretary, Senior Advisor to the Chief of Staff, and Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff. Kaplun was an Advisor and Health Insurance Specialist in the Office of Legislation in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in 2022. He was a Health Legislative Aide in the Office of Senator Tammy Baldwin at the United States Senate from 2019 to 2022. Kaplun was a Health Policy Fellow for the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee of the United States Senate from 2018 to 2019. He earned a Master of Science degree in Management Science and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Biology from Stanford University. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $206,628. Kaplun is a Democrat.

Christine Allen, of Folsom, has been appointed Director of the Office of Law Enforcement Support at the Health and Human Services Agency. Allen has been Assistant Chief Counsel at the Office of Law Enforcement Support at the Health and Human Services Agency since 2017. She was Special Assistant Inspector General at the Office of the Inspector General from 2012 to 2017. Allen was a Partner at Coleman, Chavez, & Allen from 2008 to 2012. She held multiple roles at Cuneo, Black, Ward & Missler from 2000 to 2008, including Parter and Associate Attorney. Allen earned a Juris Doctor degree from University of California, Davis and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies and Latin American and Iberian Studies from University of California, Santa Barbara. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $211,896. Allen is a Democrat. 

Danté Allen, of Sacramento, has been appointed Deputy Director of the Office of Legislation and Communications at the Department of Rehabilitation. Allen was Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration at the United States Department of Education from 2023 to 2025. He was Executive Director of  CalABLE at the California State Treasurer’s Office from 2017 to 2023. Allen was a Communications Leader with the Sierra Health Foundation at the Office of Health Equity at the California Department of Public Health from 2014 to 2017. He was Communications Director for Health Plan and Hospital Operations at Kaiser Permanente from 2007 to 2013. Allen was Executive Director for Government Relations and Communications at Queen of the Valley Medical Center from 2001 to 2007. He was Senior Communications Manager at Children Now from 1995 to 2001. Allen was a News Writer at KPIX TV 5 from 1994 to 1995. He earned a Master of Arts degree in Communications Management from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Rhetoric and Communications from the University of California, Davis. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $148,836. Allen is a Democrat.

Briannon Fraley, of Crescent City, has been appointed Tribal Advisor at the California Public Utility Commission. Fraley was the North America Indigenous Right Relations Director at The Nature Conservancy from 2022 to 2024. She was the Director of Government Relations of the City of Portland from 2021 to 2022. Fraley was the Self-Governance Director of the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation from 2012 to 2020. She earned a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Kinesiology from the California State University, Sonoma and a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Native American Studies from the California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and compensation is $145,944. Fraley is a Democrat.

Jevon Wilkes, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission. Wilkes has been Executive Director of the California Coalition for Youth since 2018. He was an External Affairs Coordinator at TLCS, Inc. from 2015 to 2018.  Wilkes was Program Director at Echoes of Hope from 2014 to 2015. He was a Career Counselor at Bresee Foundation from 2012 to 2014. Wilkes is a Co-Chair of the Empowerment Committee and Member of the Steering Committee of the California’s Child Welfare Council and is a Member of the California Interagency Council on Homelessness Advisory Committee and Department of Health Care Services’ Behavioral Health Stakeholder Advisory Committee. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from California State University, Channel Islands. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and there is no compensation. Wilkes is a Democrat.

Brandon Fernandez, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission. Fernandez has been Chief Executive Officer at CRI-Help Inc. since 2023, where he has held several roles since 2013, including Chief Operating Officer, Operations and Development Manager, Development Specialist, and Volunteer. Fernandez is a Member of the Board of Directors of the California Association of Alcohol and Drug Program Executives, California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals, Young People in Recovery, and the University of California, Los Angeles Health Policy and Management Alumni Association. He earned a Master of Public Health degree in Health Policy and Management from the University of California, Los Angeles and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the University of Denver. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Fernandez is a Democrat.

Amy Fairweather, of San Francisco, has been appointed to the Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission. Fairweather has been Director of Policy for Swords to Plowshares since 2005. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Arts Administration from Mills College. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and there is no compensation. Fairweather is a Democrat. 

Jay’Riah Thomas, of Wilton, has been appointed to the Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission. Thomas has been a principal at a public charter school since 2024. She was a Vice Principal at Aspire Public Schools from 2023 to 2024. Thomas was a Dean of Students at Baltimore City Public Schools from 2020 to 2023. She was a Program Director at STRIVE Community Health from 2013 to 2016. Thomas was Director of Education and Manager of Employment at The ARC San Francisco and an ISP Literacy Director at Five Keys Charter School from 2018 to 2020. She was a Teacher at Alan Rowe College Prep from 2016 to 2017. Thomas was a Community Organizer and Advocate at Molina Health Care from 2008 to 2017. She earned a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of the Pacific and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Women’s Studies and Political Science from Spelman College. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and there is no compensation. Thomas is a Democrat.