Sonia M. De La Rosa stepped into the CAO position in January 2023 following a long-standing career with the County of Fresno, where her hard work brought forward many improvements to services which have enhanced the lives of the residents there. She has extensive experience working with challenging issues such as homelessness, supporting victims of crime and law enforcement. The first Latina County of Monterey CAO, De La Rosa was raised in Monterey County and has maintained her roots in the community. She is the product of parents who worked in the fields of the Salinas Valley who instilled in her a deep value of hard work and dedication. De La Rosa has a track record of strong leadership both inside and outside of government and brings her love of public service to her role. She received a dual Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminology and Chicano Latino Studies from the California State University Fresno in 1998.