John Wagner
John Wagner is the Director of the California Department of
Social Services and SILC Ex-Officio member. He has more than
15 years of senior policymaking experience in the field of
human services. From 2004-2007, he served as assistant secretary
for children, youth and families for the Massachusetts Executive
Office of Health and Human Services, where he coordinated policies
and programs for the Office of Children, Youth and Families
with other state agencies. Director Wagner had also served
as commissioner for the Massachusetts Department of Transitional
Assistance since 2002, where he led one the state's largest
agencies and oversaw the administration of cash assistance,
shelter and food programs serving poor and low-income residents.
Prior to that, Director Wagner served in several capacities for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services from 1995 to 2002, including serving as the undersecretary of administration and human services. Additionally, he was a project coordinator and policy analyst for the Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services from 1992 to 1995. From 1989 to 1992, Director Wagner served as a National Kohler Research Fellow for the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute.
Director Wagner earned a master's degree in public administration from the JFK School of Government at Harvard University, a master's degree in public policy from Georgetown University and a bachelor's degree in political science from Marquette University.