Newsom Appoints Gibson as New DWR Director

SACRAMENTO - Gov. Gavin Newsom on June 29 appointed Thomas Gibson as Director of the Department of Water Resources (DWR). He succeeds Karla Nemeth, who joins ACWA as Executive Director effective Sept. 1. She had served as DWR Director since former Gov. Jerry Brown appointed her to the position in 2018.

Gibson's appointment as DWR Director requires confirmation by the state Senate. He would lead DWR after serving as its Chief Deputy Director since 2024 and has extensive experience as an attorney and through executive positions at the California Natural Resources Agency and Department of Fish and Wildlife.

"ACWA staff are excited to work with Director Gibson, and we look forward to continuing our long-term collaboration with the Department of Water Resources on behalf of our member agencies," ACWA Interim Executive Director Marwan Khalifa stated in a June 30 news release. "His years of experience at DWR, the California Natural Resources Agency and California Department of Fish and Wildlife make him an excellent selection for this vital leadership role in the California water space. This is especially true as the state faces multiple challenges in building water resiliency and identifying opportunities to establish a secure water future for California."

Gibson, of West Sacramento, also previously served as Chief Counsel at DWR from 2021 to 2024. He held multiple positions at the California Natural Resources Agency from 2014 to 2020, including serving as Deputy Secretary and Special Counsel for Water, Undersecretary and General Counsel.

Additionally, he served in multiple positions at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife from 2007 to 2014, including General Counsel and Assistant Chief Counsel. He previously worked for Best, Best, & Krieger LLP from 2002 to 2008, including as Partner and Associate. Gibson was also an Associate at Hyman, Phelps & McNamara PC from 1999 to 2002 and at Kronick, Moskovitz, Tiedemann & Girard PC from 1997 to 1999.

He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from University of California, Davis.