Julianne Polanco was appointed California’s state historic preservation officer in July 2015.  She served as a commissioner and chair of the California State Historical Resources Commission from 2005 to 2015. 

Ms. Polanco was the director of cultural resources for Lend Lease Americas.  She was the federal preservation officer and senior preservation specialist at the Presidio Trust and assistant to the vice president for programs at the World Monuments Fund.

Her professional work includes serving as an advisor to the chairman of California Integrated Waste Management Board and special assistant to the secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency. During her tenure at the California Department of conservation she held various staff positions in the director’s office, division of recycling, and division of mines and geology.

Ms. Polanco was a district staff member for Congressman Robert T. Matsui specializing in labor, health care, the military, veterans’ affairs, and the environment.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in ‘political science and international relations from the University of California at Santa Barbara and a Master of Science in historic preservation from Columbia University.