Jessica Nowaski Named MV’s First Female Deputy Police Chief

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA — Jessica Nowaski has served in many positions since joining the Mountain View Police Department 25 years ago.

Her newest is role as the MVPD’s second-in -command has made her a first in this South Bay city.

Nowaski’s appointment as deputy police chief makes her the first to serve in that role in the city’s history.

The city announced her appointment in a news release Tuesday.

Nowaski joined the MVPD as an officer in 1995. She was promoted to sergeant in 2008 and to lieutenant in 2011, a position in which she served as a watch commander, crisis negotiations team commander, and commander of the Santa Clara County Regional Auto Theft Task Force.

She was promoted to Police Captain in 2014, and since then has commanded the Special Operations and Field Operations divisions. She has also managed the MVPD’s dispatch center.

She has served the MVPD in multiple roles as a field training officer, detective, hostage negotiator, bike patrol officer and peer counselor.

In addition to her work in Mountain View, Nowaski has presented internationally on her research on coaching and leadership within law enforcement at the 3rd Annual Coaching Conference at Colombia University and the International Leadership Association Conference in Ottawa, Canada.

Nowaski holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Sonoma State University, a Master of Arts in Leadership from St. Mary’s College and is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program.

She was recognized in 2014 with the prestigious ATHENA Award honoring inspirational women leaders, and she has been integral in the planning of the California Police Chiefs’ Association Women’s Leaders in Law Enforcement Conference, among her many other outstanding contributions to the law enforcement profession.

“I am so pleased to work alongside Deputy Chief Nowaski,” incoming Police Chief Chris Hsiung said in a statement.

“Her passion for police work and mentoring, and for the people of Mountain View, knows no bounds. She has been and will continue to be an integral part of leading our department forward as we collaboratively work to be the best possible servants for our community.”