David Hanson

Interim General Manager, LADWP

David W. Hanson is an accomplished public utility executive and energy infrastructure leader with more than two decades of experience at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the nation’s largest publicly owned water and power utility. As Interim General Manager, Hanson oversees an organization of nearly 12,000 employees responsible for delivering water and electricity services to approximately four million Los Angeles residents while advancing the city’s ambitious clean energy and infrastructure modernization goals.Prior to his appointment as Interim General Manager in 2026, Hanson served as Chief Operating Officer and Senior Assistant General Manager for the Power System, where he directed system-wide operations focused on grid reliability, infrastructure modernization, and the transition to 100% carbon-free energy by 2035. Hanson began his LADWP career as an Electrical Mechanic after graduating from the department’s Electrical Mechanic Training Program and steadily advanced through leadership roles across the utility’s power system operations. Before joining LADWP, Hanson served for 10 years in the United States Navy Nuclear Powered Submarine Force as an Electrician’s Mate First Class. He served aboard the USS Drum and USS Bremerton fast-attack submarines and later worked as a Navy recruiter in Southern California. Hanson completed the Construction Management Certificate Program at University of California, Los Angeles and is widely respected for his hands-on leadership style, operational expertise, and commitment to building a more resilient and sustainable energy future for Los Angeles.