Marla Marshall is the retired Special Assistant to Sheriff Bill Gore of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, having previously served in the same capacity under the late Sheriff Bill Kolender. In this role, she served as the Sheriff’s liaison to the U.S. Senate, the House of Representatives, the Office of the Governor of California, the State Legislature, and the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. Her work included reviewing legislation with potential impacts on the department, advising the Sheriff on policy positions, and testifying before key state legislative committees. She played a pivotal role in securing millions in state budget allocations for local public safety initiatives and traveled to Washington, D.C., to advocate for federal funding to enhance or expand department programs.
Ms. Marshall also represented the Sheriff on the County’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Planning Committee. Her state-level appointments include service on the California State Contractors’ License Board, appointed by Governors George Deukmejian and Pete Wilson, and on the California Youth Authority, appointed by Governor Wilson. Before her state service, she was Chief of Staff to a San Diego City Councilmember.
Her leadership extends across statewide law enforcement organizations. She has chaired the California Peace Officers’ Association’s Legislative Committee, served on the California State Sheriffs’ Association’s Legislative Committee, and currently chairs the California Peace Officers’ Association’s Endorsement Committee.
Beyond public service, Ms. Marshall is deeply committed to nonprofit and cultural leadership. She served on the Board of Directors of the YWCA of San Diego County from 2010 to 2023, including as Board Chair from 2020 to 2023. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Unity ICE Academy, a Los Angeles–based nonprofit providing free access to ice skating and professional coaching for children from low-income families. She is also a member of Patrons of the Prado, supporting arts, science, and cultural institutions along Balboa Park’s Prado and expanding educational opportunities for K–12 students across San Diego County.
Her civic involvement also includes serving as a Steward of the San Diego History Center, President of the Sun Diego Chapter of The Girl Friends, Inc.—one of the nation’s oldest and most respected African-American women’s social organizations—and as a member of the Board of Governors of the University Club, a private San Diego city club known for its professional, civic, and social engagement. Marla is considered a social icon, a connector of cultures and a foster of friendships.