Darren, who joined UC ANR in 1999 as a postgraduate researcher, has worked his way up the UC Cooperative Extension ranks. He started as a UCCE water quality program representative in 2001, served as watershed management associate advisor for Orange and San Diego counties from 2003 to 2007, then became water resources/water quality advisor for Orange and Riverside counties in 2007 to 2009.
He has been the UC South Coast Research and Extension Center director and UC Cooperative Extension water resources advisor for Orange County since 2009. From 2011 to 2020, Darren added UCCE director for Orange County to his responsibilities. For the past five years, he has served as associate director of the REC system.
As REC system director, Darren will provide coordination, leadership and advocacy for the nine research and extension centers and oversee the REC Administrative Office. Working closely with me, he will implement the REC system's strategic plan and improve connections between research, extension and outreach functions.
He will be working with the Executive Director of Resources Planning and Management, the Director of Facilities Planning and Management and REC personnel at all nine RECs on capital projects.
Darren is the quintessential leader. He is the perfect choice to lead our research and extension centers across California. His collaborative approach and experience with the REC system will bring stability and a uniformity of practices with researchers, growing organizations and the public. We are very excited to watch the REC system grow under his leadership and that of our outstanding REC directors.
Darren will remain based at UC South Coast REC, but we will be recruiting to fill the UC South Coast REC director position.
I hope you will join me in wishing Darren success as Director of the Research and Extension Center System.
Brent Hales
Associate Vice President, Programming and Strategic Initiatives