Chancellor
University of California, Santa Cruz
George R. Blumenthal was appointed Chancellor of the University of California, Santa Cruz, on September 19, 2007, after serving as UCSC's Acting Chancellor for 14 months. Chancellor Blumenthal has held senior leadership posts at UC Santa Cruz and within the University of California system for many years. He joined the Santa Cruz campus in 1972 as a professor of astronomy and astrophysics.
Chancellor Blumenthal is known for his efforts to increase access to the university and for his commitment to diversity. He served as chair of the UC Academic Senate for 2004-05. He was the faculty representative to the UC Regents from 2003 to 2005, and chaired the UC Santa Cruz Division of the Academic Senate from 2001 to 2003. He served previously as chair of UCSC's Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
As a theoretical astrophysicist, Chancellor Blumenthal investigates the origin of structure in the universe, such as galaxies and clusters of galaxies, and the role that dark matter plays in the formation and evolution of this structure. He is a coauthor of the textbook 21st Century Astronomy.
Chancellor Blumenthal is a member of the California Council on Science and Technology as well as the Bay Area Science and Technology Consortium, and serves on the governing board of directors for the California Association for Research in Astronomy’s W. M. Keck Observatory on the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii. In June 2008, he was appointed to the board of directors of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group.
Blumenthal received his bachelor of science from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and his doctorate in physics from UC San Diego. He is married to Kelly Weisberg, a professor of law at UC Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco. They have two children.
Director
NASA Ames Research Center
S. Pete Worden (Brig. Gen., USAF, ret.) is the current director of NASA Ames Research Center. Prior to becoming director, Worden was a research professor of astronomy, optical sciences and planetary sciences at the University of Arizona, where his primary research direction was the development of large space optics for national security and scientific purposes and near-earth asteroids. He is a recognized expert on space issues—both civil and military. Worden has authored or coauthored more than 150 scientific technical papers in astrophysics, space sciences, and strategic studies. He served as a scientific co-investigator for two NASA space science missions.
In addition to his former position with the University of Arizona, Worden served as a consultant to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) on space-related issues. During the 2004 Congressional Session, Worden worked as a Congressional Fellow with the office of Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), where he served as Senator Brownback's chief advisor on NASA and space issues.
Worden retired in 2004 after 29 years of active service in the United States Air Force. His final position was Director of Development and Transformation, Space and Missile Systems Center, Air Force Space Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, CA. Worden was commissioned in 1971 after receiving a bachelor of science degree from the University of Michigan. He entered the Air Force in 1975 after graduating from the University of Arizona with a doctorate in astronomy. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Worden served in every phase of development, international negotiations, and implementation of the Strategic Defense Initiative. He twice served in the Executive Office of the President. As the staff officer for initiatives in the George Bush administration's National Space Council, Dr. Worden spearheaded efforts to revitalize U.S. civil space exploration and earth monitoring programs.
Worden commanded the 50th Space Wing that is responsible for more than 60 Department of Defense satellites and more than 6,000 people at 23 worldwide locations. He then served as deputy director for requirements at Headquarters Air Force Space Command, as well as the deputy director for command and control with the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations at Air Force headquarters. Prior to assuming his current position, Worden was responsible for policy and direction of five mission areas: force enhancement, space support, space control, force application, and computer network defense.
Chancellor
Foothill-De Anza Community College District
Martha J. Kanter is chancellor of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District, a nationally prominent community college district that serves more than 45,000 students with a total budget of about $400 million. She became chancellor in 2003 after serving as president of De Anza College for 10 years.
Expanding access to community colleges and increasing the academic performance of all students, especially those who are underrepresented in California higher education, are the core goals that drive her work.
Kanter came to California in 1977 after working as an alternative high school teacher in Massachusetts and New York. In California, she established the first program for students with learning disabilities at San Jose City College, where she later served as dean of instruction and student services. In between, she worked in the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office as a director, dean and then vice chancellor for policy and research.
Kanter holds a doctorate degree in organization and leadership from the University of San Francisco, a master’s degree with a concentration in clinical psychology and public practice from Harvard University, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Brandeis University. Her doctoral research examined factors that affect higher education for underrepresented students in California community colleges.
She serves on the executive board of the prestigious League for Innovation in the Community College and is the Northern California vice president of the CEO Board of the Community College League of California. She is a trustee of the San Jose Museum of Art, Cogswell Polytechnical College, and the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology. Kanter is a director of Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network and a senior fellow of the American Leadership Forum-Silicon Valley, which honored her in 2007 with the John W. Gardner Leadership Award.
U.S. Representative, 14th District
Anna G. Eshoo was first sworn in as a Member of the United States House of Representatives in 1993, after serving on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors for 10 years. For more than a decade in Congress she has defended consumers, promoted American competitiveness and innovation, fought for access to health care for families and children, and protected the environment.
Rep. Eshoo has served on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee since 1995 and is a member of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet and the Subcommittee on Health. She was appointed to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in January 2003. In the 110th Congress, Rep. Eshoo chairs the Subcommittee on Intelligence Community Management, which focuses on policies and management challenges affecting all 16 agencies that comprise the nation's Intelligence Community. She has authored legislation to protect our national security and our civil liberties, as well as legislation to require that any surveillance or intelligence gathering be conducted in accordance with the law, requiring court warrants based upon probable cause. In addition, Rep. Eshoo co-chairs the Congressional E-911 Caucus and the House Medical Technology Caucus, and serves as vice chair of the 21st Century Health Care Caucus.
In 2005, Rep. Eshoo led House Democrats in introducing The Innovation Agenda - A Commitment to Competitiveness to Keep America #1. This comprehensive policy plan was developed in conjunction with leaders from the high-technology, biotechnology, academic, and venture-capital communities. The Agenda makes a bold and critical national commitment to achieve energy independence for America within the next decade. It calls for legislation to increase investment in research and development to promote sustainable biofuels and hybrid technology. Education is a key element of the Innovation Agenda, with a national commitment to educate 100,000 new scientists, engineers, and mathematicians in the next four years.
Rep. Eshoo's work has earned the approval of a wide range of organizations. She consistently receives an ‘A' rating from the League of Conservation Voters and recently received a 100% rating from the American Association of University Women for her work to protect educational funding and women's rights. In 2008 she received an 'A' rating from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. She was honored with the 2006 Government Leadership Award from the Semiconductor Equipment Manufacturing Industry, and the 2006 Inaugural Congressional Award from the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.
U.S. Representative, 15th District
Mike Honda has represented the 15th Congressional District of California in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2001. His diverse district includes Silicon Valley, the birthplace of technology innovation and the leading region for the development of the technologies of tomorrow.
Honda was born in California, but spent his early childhood with his family in an internment camp in Colorado during World War II. His family returned to California in 1953, becoming strawberry sharecroppers in San Jose. In 1965, Honda interrupted his college studies to answer President John F. Kennedy's call for volunteer service. He served in the Peace Corps for two years in El Salvador, returning with a passion for teaching and fluent in Spanish. He earned bachelor's degrees in biological sciences and Spanish, and a master's degree in education from San José State University. In his 30 years as an educator, Honda was a science teacher, served as a principal at two public schools, and conducted educational research at Stanford University.
Honda served in the California State Assembly from 1996 to 2000. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000 and serves on the Appropriations Committee, with postings on that body's Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Commerce, Justice, Science, and Legislative Branch Subcommittees.
Honda is serving his second term as chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, coordinating with his colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucuses to champion the causes of under-represented communities by promoting social justice, racial tolerance, and civil rights.
In February 2009, Honda was re-elected to a second term as vice chair of the Democratic National Committee. In January, 2007, he was named House Democratic Senior Whip by House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC). Senior Whips are a select group of Members and Democratic Caucus opinion leaders tasked with strategic planning about how issues impact targeted members or groups, and will help develop strategies to ensure legislative success.
Honda is widowed and has two grown children. His wife, Jeanne, was a teacher at Baldwin Elementary School in San Jose before her passing in 2004. His son, Mark, is an aerospace engineer, and Michelle, his daughter, is a public health educator with three young boys, Trey, Brody, and Zachary.
U.S. Representative, 16th District
Zoe Lofgren has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1995, representing the 16th District of California, which is based in San Jose. A lifelong Bay Area resident, Lofgren earned her B.A. at Stanford University and her law degree at Santa Clara University. She served for eight years as a staff assistant to Congressman Don Edwards, in both his San Jose and Washington, D.C., offices. As partner at the San Jose firm Webber & Lofgren--where she practiced immigration law--she was elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors in 1980 and served for 14 years. Lofgren also taught immigration law at Santa Clara University School of Law from 1977 to 1980.
In 1994, Edwards decided to retire after 32 years in Congress, and Lofgren won the Democratic nomination for the seat; she was the only freshman Democrat from west of the Rocky Mountains elected that year.
Lofgren is the chair of the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. She is also a member of the Judiciary Committee, where she chairs the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law. In addition, Lofgren serves on the Homeland Security Committee and the Committee on House Administration where she chairs the Subcommittee on Elections.
Lofgren is chair of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation (CDCD). The delegation consists of the 33 Democratic members of the House of Representatives from California. It is the most diverse delegation in the House and outnumbers all other state House delegations.
Lofgren is married to John Marshall Collins and is the mother of two children.
President and CEO
Silicon Valley Leadership Group
Carl Guardino, one of Silicon Valley's most distinguished business and community leaders, is the president and CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, a public policy trade association that represents more than 285 of Silicon Valley's most respected companies.
In February 2007, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Guardino to a four-year term on the California Transportation Commission. He also serves on numerous other boards and is actively involved in a wide range of community organizations and projects. In 2000, the San Jose Mercury News named Guardino one of the "Five Most Powerful" people in Silicon Valley in a once-per-decade study.
Guardino has been the chief executive of the Leadership Group since 1997. He previously served as a vice president with the organization between 1991 and 1995. In between, he held an executive position in governmental affairs with Hewlett Packard. Earlier, he spent six years on the staff of Central Valley Assemblyman Rusty Areias, the last three as his chief assistant.
Known throughout the region as a consensus builder, Guardino has championed a number of important issues, especially in the areas of transportation and housing.
Guardino is the chair of City Year San Jose Silicon Valley and the founder and race director of the annual Thanksgiving Day "Applied Materials Silicon Valley Turkey Trot." In addition, he serves on the boards for the Second Harvest Food Bank, the Housing Trust of Santa Clara County, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Guardino also hosts "The CEO Show," a radio talk show featuring top Silicon Valley CEOs and other executives, which airs every Tuesday at 7 p.m. on KLIV AM 1590.
Guardino was born and raised in San Jose and received his bachelor of arts degree in political science from San Jose State University, where he is a Distinguished Alumnus. He is a member of Junior Achievement's "Silicon Valley Business Hall of Fame" and a recipient of the "Lifetime Achievement Award" from City Year, and is only the second recipient of the American Public Transit Association's Business Executive of the Year.
Carl is married to Leslee Guardino. In their spare time, they compete in marathons and Ironman distance triathlons. They have a daughter, Jessica, and reside in Los Gatos, Calif.