Resource Development Associates is thrilled to welcome long-time criminal justice reformer David Onek as Justice Practice Director. A graduate of Stanford Law School and Brown University, David comes to RDA with extensive leadership experience in government and nonprofits. “We are both delighted and fortunate to have David Onek join RDA as the Justice Practice Director. His personal and professional history illustrate a deep commitment to the mission of RDA. I have no doubt that he will do wonderful work at RDA for our clients, our staff, and the community at large,” said RDA’s CEO, Dr. Patricia Bennett.

In the public sector, David served as Deputy Director of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s Office of Criminal Justice, where he led numerous criminal justice reform initiatives for the City. Newsom later appointed David as a Commissioner on the San Francisco Police Commission, where he led an intensive organizational assessment of the Police Department and a police discipline reform process. In the nonprofit world, David served as Executive Director of the Northern California Innocence Project, which works to promote a fair, effective, and compassionate criminal justice system and protect the rights of the innocent. There, he developed new program and policy efforts with a wide range of partners. David also served as Executive Director of the Berkeley Center for Criminal Justice at UC Berkeley Law School, bringing law enforcement and community together to build partnerships in support of pragmatic criminal justice reform. At Berkeley Law, he also created and hosted the innovative Criminal Justice Conversations Podcast and taught “Criminal Justice Reform in California” and “Race, Ethnicity and the Criminal Justice System.”

“David’s many past roles in the criminal justice system perfectly position him for success in his new role at RDA. He is a true collaborator and an absolute pleasure work with,” said Alameda County Chief Probation Officer, Wendy Still. “My entire career has been about building collaborations and partnerships, and I can think of no better place to continue that work than at RDA,” said David. “I understand from experience the challenges that government and nonprofit leaders face, and look forward to supporting our clients as a trusted thought partner in their important work.”