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Josh Fryday | |
|---|---|
 Chief Service Officer | |
| Chief Service Officer | |
Josh Fryday is an American public servant, attorney, and military veteran who serves as California's Chief Service Officer, a cabinet-level position within the Governor's Office.[1] In March 2025, he announced his candidacy for Lieutenant Governor of California in the 2026 election.
Early Life and Education
[edit]Fryday was born and raised in Novato, California. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree and his Juris Doctor from the University of California, Berkeley.[2] While studying, he worked as a clerk at the U.S. Attorney's Office and the San Francisco District Attorney's Office during Kamala Harris's tenure as District Attorney.[3]
Military Service
[edit]Fryday served as a lieutenant in the United States Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG) from 2009 to 2013. During this time, he was stationed at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, where he worked on detainee cases in the Office of Military Commissions[4] In 2013, he provided testimony before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee regarding the closure of the Guantánamo Bay detention facility.[5]
Career
[edit]Local Government
[edit]Fryday was elected to the Novato City Council in 2015 and later served as the city's mayor in 2018.[6] His local government service included participation in the Marin County Council of Mayors and Councilmembers and serving as an alternate representative to Marin Clean Energy.[7]
Nonprofit Leadership
[edit]From 2013 to 2016, Fryday was Chief Operating Officer of NextGen Climate, an organization focused on climate change advocacy. He subsequently became President of Golden State Opportunity, an organization that works to help families access public benefits and achieve financial stability.[8] At Golden State Opportunity, he oversaw CalEITC4Me, a program designed to increase participation in the California Earned Income Tax Credit.[9]
State Service
[edit]Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Fryday as California's Chief Service Officer in 2019. In this role, he leads California Volunteers, the state office responsible for service and volunteering initiatives.[10] Under his leadership, California Volunteers has implemented several programs:
The California Climate Action Corps in 2020;[11]
The #CaliforniansForAll College Corps in 2022, which provides students with service opportunities and tuition assistance;[12]; and
The #CaliforniansForAll Youth Jobs Corps in 2024, which aims to provide employment and skill development for underserved youth.[13]
Fryday also directed California's COVID-19 Task Force, which coordinated support for food banks and vulnerable populations during the pandemic.[14][15]
During the January 2025 Southern California wildfires, California Volunteers coordinated the mobilization of approximately 5,000 trained community responders, including AmeriCorps members and volunteer crews, who assisted with evacuation support, shelter coordination, and post-fire recovery efforts.[16][17]
2026 Lieutenant Governor Campaign
[edit]Fryday announced his candidacy for Lieutenant Governor of California on March 5, 2025, for the 2026 election. According to reporting by POLITICO, his campaign platform focuses on "expanding volunteer service and job pathways, hunkering down to meet the state's ambitious climate goals and speeding up the construction of millions more homes in the Golden State."[18][19]
Personal Life
[edit]Fryday is married to Mollye Fryday, a public school teacher. They have three sons: Shay, Calvin, and Tam. The family resides in Davis, California.
References
[edit]- ^ "Josh Fryday Bio | GO-Serve".
- ^ "Josh Fryday | American Academy of Arts and Sciences". July 17, 2024.
- ^ "Top Newsom aide Josh Fryday to run for Lt. Governor". March 5, 2025.
- ^ .https://www.amacad.org/person/josh-fryday
- ^ "Lieutenant Josh Fryday with the U.S. Navy JAG Corps". YouTube. August 16, 2015.
- ^ https://www.novato.org/Home/Components/News/News/5892/637?fbclid=IwAR1RqsRRu3ESNdNQAPDCUmwtyMJr1WT3veJaR0vAtMDJoStuU0s24IVXpJ4&npage=16&arch=1
- ^ "Meet the Mayor: Josh Fryday". May 2, 2018.
- ^ "Governor Newsom Appoints New Chief Service Officer for California". July 12, 2019.
- ^ <https://www.goldenstateopportunity.org/news/fryday-cal-eitc-expansion-is-bigger-than-1-billion-and-its-going-to-save-lives/
- ^ "Governor Newsom Appoints New Chief Service Officer for California". July 12, 2019.
- ^ "California Climate Action Corps History | California Volunteers".
- ^ "Governor Newsom Inducts Inaugural #CaliforniansForAll College Corps Fellows". October 7, 2022.
- ^ "California's Youth Job Corps offers a second chance at career, higher education".
- ^ "Josh Fryday | California Governor's Council for Career Education".
- ^ "Josh Fryday | Milken Institute".
- ^ "CNN brings spotlight to LA Fire volunteers". YouTube. January 12, 2025.
- ^ "Fox 11 spotlights important updates on the Los Angeles wildfires". YouTube. January 13, 2025.
- ^ "Former Navy JAG wants to make government good again as lieutenant governor". Politico. March 5, 2025.
- ^ https://www.joshfryday.com