SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:
Tamma Adamek, 54, of Sacramento, has been appointed assistant chief deputy director of the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Adamek has been assistant secretary for communications at the Government Operations Agency since 2019. She was deputy director for external affairs and media relations at the California Complete Count – Census 2020 from 2018 to 2019, deputy director of communications at the Financial Information System for California from 2016 to 2018, internal communications manager at the California Public Employees’ Retirement System from 2015 to 2016 and supervising public information officer at the California Department of Toxic Substances Control from 2012 to 2015. Adamek was features editor at the Sacramento Bee from 2009 to 2012, where she was assistant metro editor from 2005 to 2009. She was assistant city editor at the Fresno Bee from 2003 to 2005 and city editor at the Stockton Record from 1999 to 2003. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $152,148. Adamek is a Democrat.
Chad Edison, 47, of Sacramento, has been reappointed chief deputy secretary for rail and transit at the California State Transportation Agency, where he has served since 2014. Edison was a transportation industry analyst at the Federal Railroad Administration from 2010 to 2014. He was a senior consulting manager, consulting manager and senior transportation consultant at AECOM from 2001 to 2010 and held several positions at the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) from 1996 to 2001, including senior manager of financial analysis. Edison earned a Master of Public Policy degree in international trade and finance from the University of Michigan. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $184,296. Edison is a Democrat.
Maria West, 48, of Sacramento, has been appointed director of communications at the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). West has been a public information officer at the Department of Water Resources since 2018. She was an associate governmental program analyst at the State Council on Developmental Disabilities from 2016 to 2018, work services manager at PRIDE Industries from 2014 to 2016 and lead writer and project manager for Innovation on Demand from 1996 to 2004, and 2005 to 2013. West earned a Master of Arts degree in counseling psychology from the University of Phoenix. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $110,172. West is a Democrat.
Rebecca Wendt, 46, of Sacramento, has been appointed deputy state librarian at the California State Library. Wendt has been state library services bureau chief at the California State Library since 2016. She served in several positions at the California State Archives from 2001 to 2016, including deputy state archivist, managing archivist for public programs, archivist II and archivist I. She was manuscripts and photographs curator for the University of California, Davis Library Special Collections and University Archives from 1999 to 2001. Wendt held multiple positions at the Yolo County Library from 1996 to 1999, including archives and records center coordinator and library assistant III, II and I. She earned a Master of Library Science degree from San Jose State University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $134,916. Wendt is registered without party preference.
Robert Carr, 51, of Walnut Creek, has been appointed to the Board of Pilot Commissioners. Carr has been a pilot for the San Francisco Bar Pilots since 2011. He was master at Chevron Shipping Company from 1990 to 2011. Carr served in the U.S. Navy Reserve from 1990 to 2002. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Carr is Republican.
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