REDWOOD CITY — The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday recognized the retirement of Assistant County Executive Iliana Rodriguez, whose 38-year career has shaped some of the County’s most critical programs, strengthened regional partnerships and positively impacted generations of residents. Rodriguez will retire from County service on Dec. 31, 2025.
A Daly City native, Rodriguez has spent virtually her entire professional life serving the community in which she grew up. After earning a bachelor’s degree in sociology and master’s degree in public administration from San Francisco State University, she returned to San Mateo County to build a career rooted in service, equity and compassion.
Board of Supervisors President David Canepa highlighted her lasting impact on the community: “Iliana’s story is the story of San Mateo County — growing up here, building a career here and dedicating her life to giving back to the place she calls home. Her work has touched every corner of this county, from helping families build stability to advancing major initiatives in housing, health and human services. Her leadership during crises and in tackling our most urgent challenges has made our community stronger, more compassionate and more resilient. Her impact will be felt for decades to come.”
Over the course of her career, Rodriguez has taken on some of the County’s most complex and consequential leadership roles. She spent more than a decade as Director of Child Support Services, where her leadership helped ensure that children received reliable financial support, providing greater stability and opportunity. She later served four years as Director of the Human Services Agency, overseeing major initiatives including the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, expanded housing and independence programs for foster youth and the return of Veterans’ Stand Down events. Under her leadership, the County’s homelessness response was fundamentally restructured through the creation of multiagency Homeless Outreach Teams, the launch of the Coordinated Entry System and progress toward the County’s goal of achieving functional zero homelessness.
Rodriguez joined the County Executive’s Office in 2017 as a Deputy County Executive and was appointed Assistant County Executive in 2023. In this role, she has helped guide countywide strategies across Health, Housing, Human Services, Child Support and other major departments. Her leadership has also been key in advancing innovative housing solutions, most notably collaborative efforts to expand safe, stable farmworker housing along the coast, such as Stone Pine Cove.
Rodriguez’s service also includes leading the County through some of its most difficult moments. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she served as incident commander for the County’s Emergency Operations Center, coordinating a massive, sustained response that kept essential services running and ensured residents received critical support during a time of extraordinary need.
Throughout her career, Rodriguez has been known not only for her technical expertise, but also for her leadership style: she listens first, centers community impact and mentors others. Colleagues frequently describe her as a calm, steady presence who brings people together across departments, cities and community organizations to solve problems too big for any one entity to tackle alone.
County Executive Mike Callagy praised Rodriguez’s contributions and legacy: “Iliana’s career is a testament to what public service can be. She leads with heart, integrity and an unwavering commitment to the people of San Mateo County. Her work has strengthened our systems, supported our most vulnerable neighbors and built partnerships that will endure long after her retirement. I have relied on her judgment and leadership more times than I can count, and our organization is stronger because she was part of it. We are deeply grateful for her decades of service and the example she has set for future generations of public servants.”
As Rodriguez concludes her tenure, County leaders, employees and community partners recognize not only the depth of her contributions but also the lasting influence she has had on the County’s culture, values and future direction.
The County of San Mateo extends its heartfelt gratitude to Assistant County Executive Iliana Rodriguez for her extraordinary service and wishes her every success in her well-earned retirement.
Effie Milionis Verducci
Interim Director of Strategic Communications
650-407-4915
everducci@smcgov.org