SACRAMENTO – On Friday Gov. Jerry Brown today announced the appointment of the California Public Utilities Commission's new deputy executive director.

Nancy Ryan, Ph.D., 49, of Berkeley, will fill the post at the CPUC.

She has been a commissioner on the Public Utilities Commission and previously served as deputy executive director.

Ryan held the position of chief of staff and chief energy advisor to President Michael R. Peevey from 2006 to 2009.

Prior to that, Ryan was a senior economist and California deputy regional director for the Environmental Defense Fund from 2001 to 2005, deputy director for the Ecosystems Program in 2005 and visiting assistant professor at the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley from 1996 to 2007.

She was an independent energy consultant for conservation groups, public agencies and electric utilities from 1997 to 2001.

Ryan worked for Quantum Consulting as a project manager from 1993 to 1996 and economic analyst from 1987 to 1989. Prior to that, she was an assistant professor in the Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration at the University of British Columbia from 1991 to 1993.

This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $134,808. Ryan is a Democrat.

Additional appointments will be announced in the days ahead, the Governor's Office reported.