California State Senate Votes Unanimously to Confirm Eric Hirata as ABC Director

Sacramento – On Monday, March 15, 2021, the California State Senate voted unanimously to confirm Eric Hirata’s appointment to the position of Director of the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) on a 39-0 vote. Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Hirata as Director in July 2020.

Hirata began his career as an Agent in the Inglewood District Office in 1996. He was later assigned to the Department’s Special Operations Unit in both Southern and Northern California. He promoted to Supervising Agent and Supervising Agent in Charge in the San Francisco District Office and was later called to serve in two different administrative assignments in Headquarters. He served as the Department’s Legislative Director where he collaborated with stakeholders on policy and legislative matters and acted as the Department liaison to the California State Legislature.

Hirata also served as the Program Manager for the Department’s Grant Unit where he was responsible for allocating grants to local law enforcement agencies under the Grant Assistance Program and worked in partnership with the California Office of Traffic Safety and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention on federal grants. In 2009, he was promoted to Deputy Division Chief in the Northern Division Office where he assumed responsibility for the Department’s district offices throughout Northern California. In 2017, Hirata was appointed Chief Deputy Director.

Hirata holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from California State University, Sacramento and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from California State University, Stanislaus.

ABC is a Department of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.

Contact

Additional information may be obtained by contacting:

Public Information Office
3927 Lennane Drive, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95834
Email: pio@abc.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 419-2525

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