Kern County CAO

Ryan J. Alsop Chief Administrative Officer Ryan Alsop was appointed by the Kern County Board of Supervisors to serve as the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for Kern County on January 2, 2017. As Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Alsop is responsible for implementing the policy directives of the Board of Supervisors and overseeing general operation and function of County government, including Budget and Finance, Policy and Legislative Affairs, Compliance and Accountability, Human Resources, General Services, Information Technology, Economic and Workforce Development, among other critical functions.

Mr. Alsop serves on the Board of Directors of the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) Finance Corporation and on the Board of Governor’s for Kern Medical. Immediately prior to his appointment, Mr. Alsop served as Assistant Chief Executive Officer for Los Angeles County from 2009 to 2016 and as Director of Government and Public Affairs for Long Beach Water from 2001 to 2009.

He has also served as Director of External Affairs for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, as Vice President of a private sector government relations firm in Washington, D.C. where he represented the interests of local governments throughout California and the nation, he’s served on the staffs of United States Representative Stephen Horn and California State Senator Ken Maddy, and has held government and public affairs positions with the Long Beach Area and Greater Bakersfield Area Chambers of Commerce.

Mr. Alsop received a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from California State University, Bakersfield, and holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the American University, School of Public Affairs, in Washington, D.C.