DED's Office

David Maggard

Director David L. Maggard Jr. was appointed Deputy Executive Director for Law Enforcement and Homeland Security on August 5, 2019. Prior to becoming Deputy Executive Director, Director Maggard served as the Assistant Chief of Airport Police in 2015 and later became the Chief of Airport Police in 2016. As Chief of Airport Police, Director Maggard led the nation’s largest aviation law enforcement agency with more than 1,100 sworn and civilian employees who work at Los Angeles International (LAX) and Van Nuys (VNY) airports.

Director Maggard has 30 years of experience in Public Safety, Homeland Security, Community Policing, and Patrol Operations. He served as the Chief of Police – Director of Public Safety for the City of Irvine from 2003-2015 where he led 450 public safety professionals and headed City-wide Technology, Animal Services, City Business Licensing and City Emergency Preparedness. He also implemented an innovative personnel deployment model referred to as Geographic Based Policing which has served as a model for other jurisdictions. He created a nationally acclaimed Area Traffic Officer program, which emphasizes implementing long-term solutions for traffic related problems, and created the first Construction Site Security Ordinance for the City of Irvine. Director Maggard previously served as a Police Captain in the City of Manhattan Beach, a Police Lieutenant in the City of Indio, and a Police Officer and Police Sergeant with the University of California Police.

Director Maggard formerly served as California’s representative to the State Association of Chiefs of Police and was appointed by Governor Brown as an inaugural member of the California Board of State and Community Corrections. He served as the President of the Orange County Police Chiefs and Sheriffs Association and as the President of the California Police Chiefs Association. Director Maggard served for a decade as a Commissioner of the Orange County Human Relations Commission and the Advisory Council of the Irvine Public Schools Foundation. He is a Fellow for the California State University, Long Beach Ukleja Center for Ethical Leadership. Director Maggard received the Freedom Award from the United States Secretary of Defense, the Seven Seals Award from the United States Department of Defense and numerous other local awards.

Director Maggard’s educational experience includes a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies from the University of California, Berkeley (where he was NCAA Division 1 Collegiate All-American, Track and Field), a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from California State University, Long Beach, and is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Education at Pepperdine University. He is also a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy, and has published various police articles.

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