When Governor Jerry Brown picked a new leader for the relatively new Department of Human Resources (CalHR), he didn’t have to venture very far afield.  

The director of CalHR, Julie Chapman, was selected to be acting director of the Department of Personnel Administration (DPA) just as it was about to be restructured and renamed the Department of Human Resources under Governor Jerry Brown’s wide-ranging government reorganization.

The Legislature approved the restructuring changes and on July 1, 2012, CalHR debuted. Three weeks later, Governor Brown officially named Chapman its director and the Legislature confirmed the appointment in May.

Chapman joined state government in 1987 as a staff services and associate personnel analyst at the Department of Housing and Community Development. She slid over to the Department of General Services in 1993, where she held multiple positions until 1996, including labor relations analyst and associate personnel analyst.

Chapman was a labor relations analyst and specialist at the Department of Mental Health from 1996 to 2000.

She moved to DPA in 2000 and held multiple positions there including, labor relations officer (2000-2004), assistant chief of labor relations (2004-2006), deputy director of labor relations (2006-2009) and chief deputy director (2009-2011).

She was prematurely outed as the future director of the proposed Department of Human Resources by DPA Director Ron Yank in February 2012. Yank sent out a memo announcing Chapman would replace him as director while the reorganization plan that would rename the department was still in the works.

Yank had glowing words for his successor: “I want to tell you that it will be the friend, sidekick, and mentor of many at DPA who will replace me—Julie Chapman. Julie has been my choice (and after discussions with him, that of Marty Morgenstern) ever since March of last year. I asked her to take the gig last August or September. I know she will be a great Director of DPA (and, within months, of Cal HR). I know she will continue the direction and efforts of this Administration.”

–Ken Broder

To Learn More:

Jerry Brown Appoints Department of Human Resources Chief (by Jon Ortiz, Sacramento Bee)

Governor Brown Announces Appointments (Press release)

Internal Memo Leaks Name of Jerry Brown's Next Personnel Director (by John Ortiz, Sacramento Bee)

Julie Chapman (CalPERS)