Governor Gavin Newsom recently appointed Dana Simas as press secretary at CDCR. She was sworn in by CDCR Secretary Ralph Diaz on Aug. 19.

Simas has been assistant director of communications and public affairs at the California Department of Child Support Services since 2016.
She has held multiple positions at CDCR from 2010 to 2016.
Positions included information officer II, information officer I and special assistant to the Superintendent of the Northern California Youth Correctional Center.
She also served as deputy press secretary at the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General, from 2008 to 2010.
This position does not require Senate confirmation.
Read about other CDCR appointments (link opens new tab).