Jeffrey Prieto

Jeffrey Prieto is the General Counsel of the Los Angeles Community College District. His prior federal government service includes nearly 20 years across various agencies. Prieto began his Federal career as a White House Fellow assigned to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. He then served as an Attorney-Advisor at the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Water. While at EPA, he was a member of the Phase II NPDES Storm Water team. He also served as a Trial Attorney, Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General, Deputy Executive Officer, and General Counsel in the Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). He was lead counsel on a number of cases while at ENRD, including some of the Division’s highest-profile matters. Prieto served as the Chair of ENRD’s Diversity Committee Working Group and as Co-Chair of the ENRD’s Environmental Justice Plan implementation. Under the Obama-Biden administration, he served as the Senate confirmed General Counsel of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). He was responsible for providing legal advice and services to the Secretary of Agriculture and to all other officials and agencies with respect to all USDA programs, operations, and activities. He was involved in all major USDA litigation, including class action matters, high-profile investigations, and major legislation. Prior to his federal service, Prieto worked as environmental planner for a California municipality. Following his federal tenure, he has continued his public service as the general counsel of the largest community college district in the nation. Prieto earned a BA in history from the University of California, Santa Barbara, a J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, and a Masters in Public Affairs and Urban and Regional Planning from Princeton University. Prieto is a native Californian and lives in Los Angeles with his wife.