First 'Chief Resilience Officer' Begins Term in Oakland

Victoria Salinas was recently named Oakland, California's first Chief Resilience Officer (CRO), a position popping up in municipalities throughout the world.

1 minute read

August 19, 2014, 10:00 AM PDT

By Maayan Dembo @DJ_Mayjahn


According to Will Doig of Next City, the, city of Oakland, in conjunction with The Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities, created the position to be filled by Victoria Salinas. Salinas has previously worked with The World Bank on their Disaster Management Team, as well as FEMA, the State Department, and the United Nations Development Programme.

Salinas has her hands full, as she will "lead the city’s efforts to prepare for and respond to a number of challenges, from executing earthquake retrofits for 24,000 at-risk multi-family housing units to developing long-term strategies for protecting the city from sea-level rise and intensifying storms. She will also implement Oakland’s Energy and Climate Action Plan, which was adopted by the city council in December 2012."

The CRO position has now been created in a number of cities like Christchurch, New Zealand; Boulder, Colorado; Dakar, Senegal; Norfolk, Virginia; and Medellin, Colombia. One of the key benefits of this position throughout the globe is knowledge-sharing and collaborative ideation. As Doig writes, "the CROs of Medellin and San Francisco have been discussing ways to deal with seismic threats," a conversation which previously would not have existed.

If your city is interested in joining the 100 Resilient Cities initiative, there is still time! So far only 32 cities have been chosen, and applications for the next round are now available, due September 10.  

Tuesday, August 12, 2014 in Next City

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight