Walter F. Ekard
Walter F. Ekard
Chief Administrative Officer
County of San Diego |
Walter F. Ekard is the Chief Administrative Officer for the County of San Diego. As the chief executive for the fifth largest county in the United States, Mr. Ekard manages a workforce of 17,000 employees and an annual budget of over $4 billion. Mr. Ekard was appointed to this position by the five-member Board of Supervisors on May 4, 1999. He previously served as the Assistant Chief Administrative Officer and was the Boards' "first and only choice" for the job because of his experience and strong leadership skills.
As the County's CAO, he provides policy-based program and financial decision-making support to the Board and oversees the operation of 40 departments that provide a myriad of services to the region - from health and human services to criminal justice programs, land use planning, public works, parks, libraries, animal control and voter registrar services. He also manages the allocation of personnel, capital and budgetary resources within the County organization.
Since he began working for the County in 1996, Mr. Ekard has been a part of its dramatic transformation, including a creation of a structurally-balance budget and the implementation of a general management system. Working closely with the Board and the County's executive team, Mr. Ekard works to institute private business management practices throughout the County, stressing customer service, fiscal accountability and teamwork. Current and future efforts will focus on maintaining the organization's strong business disciplines and leveraging the County's innovative information technology outsourcing investment to gain greater efficiencies through business process reengineering and continuous improvement initiatives.
Mr. Ekard brings a unique combination of qualifications and experience to this post. He has worked with legislators - serving as a senior policy advisor to former County Supervisor Paul Fordem (1981-1984), then as Chief of Staff to former Supervisor Brian Bilbray (1985-1987). He also managed the Rancho Santa Fe Association from 1987 to 1996, transforming this 70-year-old organization into a smooth-running, productive and powerful regional influence. During his tenure with the Association, he worked in a capacity much like a city manager, developing linkages between the Association and other community organizations, created a long-term strategic plan to secure needed support from local and regional government agencies, and reduced administrative staff while streamlining the budget process and privatizing certain Association functions.
A native of San Diego County, Mr. Ekard received his Bachelor of Arts degree from San Diego State University and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego School of Law. He is a member of the State Bar of California and has served on a number of community boards and commissions. He and his wife, Pam, reside in El Cajon with their family.
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