County Appoints Elizabeth Hernandez as Permanent Health and Human Services Agency Chief
Hernandez, who has served as interim deputy CAO since October 2025, was selected after a national search that drew more than 200 applicants; she starts the permanent role Oct. 2.
San Diego County has appointed Elizabeth Hernandez, Ph.D., as the permanent deputy chief administrative officer for the Health and Human Services Agency following an extensive national recruitment, the county announced.
Hernandez has served as interim deputy CAO for HHSA since October 2025 and will officially assume the permanent role on Oct. 2. She joined the county in 2016 as assistant director of Public Health Services and was promoted to director in 2021.
The County worked with a national search firm to conduct the recruitment, receiving more than 200 applications for the position.
HHSA is one of the county's largest agencies, providing health and social services to roughly one in every three county residents each year. It encompasses Aging & Independence Services, Child & Family Well-Being, Housing & Community Development, Public Health Services, and Self-Sufficiency Services.
Hernandez holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Azusa Pacific University and a master's and doctorate in dual clinical/industrial-organizational psychology from Alliant International University in San Diego. Before joining the county, she worked as vice president with the Neighborhood House Association, one of San Diego's largest nonprofit organizations.
Her appointment places her among the county's top administrative leadership, overseeing an agency with a budget in the billions and thousands of employees across multiple departments.
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