Chief Executive, County of Los Angeles

Davenport, the country’s first Black chief executive, was appointed to the position in January last year. She began her long tenure with Los Angeles County in 1998 and has filled a variety of leadership roles, including interim director of the Office of Child Protection, chief deputy director of the Department of Children and Family Services, and chief attorney/chief deputy of the Child Support Services Department. After graduating from Cal State – Long Beach, she earned a master’s in public adminstration from Cal State – Northridge and a JD from UC Hastings College of Law. She is a licensed attorney.

YEARS ON THE LA500: 2