Yogananda Pittman leads the UC Police Department at Berkeley, which is responsible for campus safety, emergency response, law enforcement, and community policing in support of the university’s academic mission. Her department provides 24/7 services including patrol, investigations, emergency preparedness, event security, and coordination with city and regional law enforcement partners. She also plays a key leadership role in advancing UC Berkeley’s approach to holistic and inclusive safety, working in close coordination with campus units and the Office of Emergency Management.
Before joining UC Berkeley in 2023, Chief Pittman spent over two decades with the United States Capitol Police, where she rose to national prominence during the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. As Assistant Chief, she was responsible for protective and intelligence operations and later served as Acting Chief of Police, becoming the first African American woman to lead the department. Her experience spans dignitary protection, incident command, public safety reform, and organizational restructuring in high-pressure and high-visibility environments. At Berkeley, she brings deep expertise in modern policing and crisis leadership to one of the country’s most dynamic and engaged public university communities.
