TL;DR
Joseph McCullough, a veteran employee of California’s Alcoholic Beverage Control agency, was recently appointed as its Director after serving in various leadership roles over his 20+ year career. McCullough is known for balancing enforcement and education, building partnerships, and adopting new training and policies. As Director, he aims to leverage technology, improve enforcement efficiency, and expand community education programs on responsible alcohol use.
Joseph McCullough’s extensive experience and dedicated service have prepared him well for his new role as Director of the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. McCullough first joined the Department in 2001 as an Agent in the San Francisco District Office. In this critical frontline position, he learned the ins and outs of enforcing alcohol regulations across the diverse communities of the Bay Area. McCullough quickly gained a reputation as a fair and effective agent, renowned for his balanced approach of education and enforcement.
Just two years into his career with the Department, McCullough’s leadership skills were recognized when he was promoted to Supervising Agent. In this role, he supervised a team of agents in the San Francisco office and began developing his management style marked by collaboration and mentorship. He made it a priority to ensure his agents received top-notch training on investigative techniques, de-escalation tactics, and community partnership building.
By 2009, McCullough was ready to take on greater management responsibilities and became District Administrator for the Stockton office. In California’s Central Valley, he confronted new challenges like working with the region’s large agricultural industry and overseeing compliance among its many seasonal and special event alcohol permits. McCullough built strong relationships with regional industry leaders that helped improve voluntary compliance. He also spearheaded several youth alcohol education programs that taught Central Valley teens and parents about underage drinking risks.
McCullough returned to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2013 when he was promoted to Chief of the Northern Division Special Operations Unit. This elite unit conducts long-term, complex investigations into pervasive issues like criminal organizations exploiting liquor licenses or systematic sales to minors at disorderly establishments. McCullough revamped the unit’s operations to focus on community impact cases that addressed the root causes of alcohol-related crimes. Several high-profile cases during his tenure shut down key hubs for contraband alcohol and illegal firearm sales.
By 2017, McCullough was one of the agency’s most respected managers. He joined the ABC Headquarters team as Deputy Division Chief, overseeing core operations like policy development, strategic planning, training, and external grant programs. McCullough emphasized the importance of regular policy reviews and working closely with local agencies to ensure ABC policies reflected emerging community needs. He also expanded ABC’s training curriculum to incorporate new topics like mental health crisis response and implicit bias.
In 2021, McCullough was tapped to lead the Northern Division as its Division Chief. The Northern Division is the state’s largest division spanning territory from the Oregon border to Bakersfield. Leading this massive region, McCullough delegated authority to district administrators to address each community’s unique concerns while also systematizing enforcement and compliance best practices across the region. He also strengthened ties with Northern California industry leaders and local law enforcement executives.
Based on his track record of success, McCullough was appointed Chief Deputy Director at ABC Headquarters in 2022. As second-in-command, he helped shape the statewide strategic vision and advised the Director on key initiatives. When the Director retired in September 2023, McCullough was the natural choice as his successor. With his deep experience, collaborative approach, and commitment to public service, he is well prepared to lead the agency into the future.
Throughout his distinguished career at the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, McCullough has been guided by his belief in balancing tough but fair enforcement with community education and partnership building. He is a member of professional associations like the California Peace Officer Association that allow him to stay connected to the wider law enforcement community. McCullough is also a strong advocate for continual learning, having earned his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from California State University, Sacramento.
As he takes the reins at the Department, McCullough is focused on leveraging partnerships and technology to improve enforcement efficiency. He also wants to expand community education programs on topics like responsible beverage service and underage drinking prevention. Though the liquor control landscape is constantly evolving, McCullough’s collaborative leadership approach and commitment to public service position him well to guide the agency into its next chapter.