Sergeant Major Associates is a full-service governmental consulting firm specializing in the advocacy of client concerns before the California State legislature and government regulatory agencies.

Located across the street from the State Capitol in Sacramento, SMA is widely recognized as an influential and aggressive firm with direct access to virtually all members of the Legislature and top administrators in California state government.

With more than 50 years combined professional experience in legislative and governmental affairs, the firm of Sergeant Major Associates has earned a solid reputation for achieving positive results for its clients.

"When local governments are at risk of losing critical state funding, it is essential to have an effective advocate at the Capitol. That's why we appreciate Jerry's ability to achieve success."
Former Mayor, Gary Podesto
City of Stockton

 
Mr. Haleva is a veteran of 20 years as a professional staff person with the California Legislature. Beginning as a Ford Foundation Fellow, he served both houses and both parties during his public service career. From 1972 through 1974, he served as the Legislature's chief consultant on the state prison system. In 1976, as Chief of Staff to the Senate Minority Leader, he supervised the Joint Committee of Fire, Police, Emergency and Disaster Services, the Select Committee on Business Development, and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, earning a reputation of effectiveness and the capability of building solid bipartisan coalitions in support of good public policy initiatives.

In January of 1990, Mr. Haleva opened his governmental consulting firm, Sergeant Major Associates, Inc. Deriving the name of his firm from the military rank that is known for its resourcefulness, SMA quickly became one of the top 25 lobbying firms in California, recognized for its positive results in the governmental arena. Among the clients he has represented before the California State Legislature and state and federal agencies are several Fortune 500 companies such as Pfizer, Owens-Illinois, and BMW as well as prestigious institutions such as Pepperdine University and numerous local government agencies, as well as strategic consulting and results oriented projects at the federal level.

In addition to his work responsibilities, Mr. Haleva serves on a number of boards and commissions. He is on the Executive Committee of both the Yosemite National Institute and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and is a board member on the California International Relations Foundation. In December 1998, Mr. Haleva was appointed to the California Film Commission and in January of 2000, he was appointed to the Citizens' Oversight Committee by the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol.

On the lighter side, he has gained a great deal of notoriety as the Saddam Hussein look-alike, having played that role in several movies, including "Hot Shots! Part Deux", "Mafia", and "The Big Lebowski."

Haleva, who holds a B.A. in Government and a general secondary teaching credential from California State University at Sacramento, is married to Sharon Ecker and lives in Fair Oaks, California.

Jerry Haleva featured in San Jose Mercury (Front Page)

Jerry Haleva featured in Canadian National Post

Sergeant Major Associates / Jerry Haleva featured in Comstock's Business Magazine

Jerry Haleva featured in Reuters News Service

Jerry Haleva featured in Entertainment Weekly

Jerry Haleva featured in Los Angeles Times

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PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

Thirty years experience as an emergency services and public policy consultant and manager. Skilled in public policy analysis and strategy, program management and evaluation, public speaking and instruction, negotiation, and team building. Detailed knowledge of public safety, emergency management, disaster assistance programs and public policy issues.

Consultant to the California State Senate Rules Committee in the preparation and exercise of the State Capitol Building Emergency Plan and the Legislative Office Building Emergency Plan Annex, and Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Firearm Policy.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

RBS - PUBLIC POLICY STRATEGY, 9/90 - current

Self-employed owner of an independent consulting firm specializing in public safety policy, emergency preparedness and planning, and program review and evaluation issues. Current and past clients include the California State Legislature Senate Rules Committee, the Association of Contract Counties, the California State Firefighters' Association, Disaster Recovery Services, Kern County Fire Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Marin County Fire Department, Orange County Fire Department, Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Sergeant Major Associates, Inc., and Ventura County Fire Protection District.

CHIEF CONSULTANT - ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS AND NATURAL DISASTERS, 3/01/90 - 8/15/90

Responsible for managing a standing policy committee of the California State Legislature that addressed earthquake and natural disaster public policies.

CHIEF CONSULTANT - JOINT COMMITTEE ON FIRE, POLICE, EMERGENCY AND DISASTER SERVICES, 3/15/87 - 3/01/90

Responsible for managing a legislative research committee to review and analyze California's disaster preparedness, response, and recovery programs and public policies.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, RESPONSE & RECOVERY DIRECTORATE, CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, 9/05/85 - 3/15/87

Responsible for the management of the Response & Recovery Directorate, California Office of Emergency Services which included the following : Administration Unit; Disaster Assistance Division; Fire & Rescue Division; Law Enforcement Division; Legislative Unit; Telecommunications Division; and Utilities Division.

PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT - JOINT COMMITTEE ON FIRE, POLICE, EMERGENCY & DISASTER SERVICES, 7/01/81 - 9/05/85

Responsible for review, analysis and evaluation of California's state and local disaster preparedness, response and recovery, and disaster assistance policies and programs. Developed legislative reports and public policy recommendations to improve state and local emergency and disaster service capabilities.

CONSULTANT - SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON FIRE SERVICES, 1/01/77 -6/30/81

Responsible for review, analysis and evaluation of state and local fire service public policy, programs and capabilities.

ASSISTANT CONSULTANT - ASSEMBLY SELECT COMMITTEE ON FIRE SERVICES, 2/23/76 - 12/31/76

RESEARCH ASSISTANT - ASSEMBLY SELECT COMMITTEE ON PRISON REFORM AND REHABILITATION, 3/15/72 - 12/31/74

EDUCATION

California State University, Sacramento
Master in Public Administration, M.P.A. - 1985

Sacramento State College, Sacramento
Bachelor of Arts, Economics, BA - 1970

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