Chief Deputy Commissioner

Michael Martinez was appointed by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to the position of Chief Deputy Commissioner on February 13, 2023.  As Chief Deputy, Michael provides strategic direction and oversees the day-to-day operations of the California Department of Insurance and serves as the principal advisor to Commissioner Lara.

Michael started at the Department of Insurance in 2019 as Senior Deputy Commissioner and Legislative Director, working from Day One of Commissioner Lara's administration to help tackle many of the Department's major policy initiatives and pressing regulatory matters. This is not his first time at the California Department of Insurance, having previously served as Deputy Commissioner and Legislative Director from 2011-2013 under then-Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones.

In the past four years while heading Commissioner Lara's newly established Policy and Legislation Branch, Michael has overseen tremendous growth and successes for the Department's Legislative Office, the California Organized Investment Network (COIN), the Insurance Diversity Initiative, the Appointments Office, and the Health Equity and Access Office.

In Commissioner Lara's first term, Michael, in partnership with the Legislative Office team, oversaw the sponsorship of 53 consumer protection measures, with 39 of them being signed by the Governor. He facilitated the launch of the Department's "Invest In Our Diverse Communities" initiative in COIN, which significantly expanded the impact of our insurance diversity efforts statewide. He also pushed additional important health care access and consumer protections for historically underserved communities.

Prior to joining the Department, Michael served as Deputy Legislative Affairs Secretary and, before that, as Deputy Appointments Secretary for Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. Michael also spent many years as a legislative advocate and public affairs manager for causes that protect the public health, economic security, and safety of our communities.

He is recognized and appreciated by Commissioner Lara for his strategic thinking, sound judgment, and positive attitude to get things done. Michael's more than 25 years of public service and government affairs have given him wide respect and deep admiration among his peers, Department colleagues and staff, elected leaders, and major stakeholders. Michael works tirelessly to protect California's consumers and to provide leadership to the Department.

He is a proud member of the One Community Health Board of Directors, CARES Foundation Board of Directors, and the University of California Office of the President's HIV/AIDS Research Program Advisory Council. He is a past recipient of the Legal Aid Association of California’s Award of Merit.

Michael has two Bachelors of Arts Degrees in Political Science and Urban Studies from Stanford University.