CDFA welcomes the appointment of Carney King as Deputy Secretary of Legislative Affairs

Public Sector Leadership Transition

CDFA welcomes the appointment of Carney King as Deputy Secretary of Legislative Affairs

Military Veteran and Seasoned Policy Consultant Promoted to Direct Legislative Strategy

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has officially announced the appointment of Carney King as the new Deputy Secretary of Legislative Affairs. King, who has served as the department’s Legislative Manager since 2025, advances into this senior role following an expansive career across public administration and the United States military. His legislative credentials include serving as a Policy Consultant for Senator Richard Roth, a Legislative Aide to Senator Bill Dodd, and a Senate Fellow under Mike Morrell within the California State Senate. A decorated veteran, King also spent six years operating as a CH-47F Flight Engineer in the US Army before completing his Master of Public Administration at the University of Southern California. Review the official announcement detailing this key regulatory leadership update at CDFA.

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Carney King has been appointed the Deputy Secretary of Legislative Affairs at the California Department of Food and Agriculture. King has been CDFA’s Legislative Manager since 2025, and came to the department after a distinguished career in the US Army and service in several legislative offices.

He was a Policy Consultant in the Office of Senator Richard Roth in the California State Senate from 2022 to 2025; a Legislative Aide in the Office of Senator Bill Dodd in the California State Senate in 2020; Site Lead for the Covid Testing Task Force in the California State Senate from 2020 to 2022; and a Senate Fellow in the Office of Mike Morrell in the California State Senate from 2018 to 2020.

He served as a CH-47F Flight Engineer in the United States Army from 2005 to 2011. King earned a Master of Public Administration Degree from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the University of Oregon.

Carney is an avid golfer who enjoys spending time with his wife and two kids. Congratulations, Carney!

Strategic Market Context

The appointment of experienced governance and legislative specialists to senior agricultural ministries underlines the intensifying intersection of farming policy, supply chain security, and climate frameworks. As states like California adapt to evolving biological inputs and clean transportation regulations, seasoned administrative leaders are essential to guide complex rule-making processes. This trend toward structural administrative expansion is evident across key domestic and international agricultural networks, such as Pivot Bio working with US Treasury officials regarding Section 45Z low-carbon feedstock credits, and major global regulatory shifts, including CropLife Brasil initiating legal certainty frameworks to support innovative year-round crop production systems.

“Bridging distinguished public service with regulatory excellence in agriculture.”

California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA)

Sacramento, CA | Executive Appointments Registry | June 2026 | cdfa.ca.gov