Damon Micalizzi
Director of Public Affairs
Damon Micalizzi, Director of Public Affairs
Damon Micalizzi is Director of Public Affairs for the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC), where he has served since 2017. In this role, he provides executive leadership for the District’s strategic communications, media relations, public outreach, and brand management, advancing MWDOC’s mission to deliver reliable, affordable, and sustainable water supplies for Orange County while enhancing regional understanding of complex water policy issues and fostering collaboration among member agencies and policymakers.
At MWDOC, Micalizzi has played a key role in shaping the District’s public profile and stakeholder engagement. Under his leadership, the Public Affairs team has strengthened engagement on issues ranging from drought resilience and conservation to long-term water supply planning, helping build public trust and supporting informed decision-making. He leads a high-performing communications team that has earned more than 20 awards recognizing excellence in strategic communications, digital campaigns, social media, web design, and innovative public-private partnerships.
Micalizzi began his career in television news, contributing to Emmy Award-winning newscasts and interviewing former and sitting U.S. presidents. These experiences shaped his disciplined approach to strategic messaging, crisis communications, and public accountability. He later served as Director of Public and Community Relations for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and held media relations roles at The Walt Disney Company, supporting high-profile, complex communications initiatives. Before joining MWDOC, he worked in External Affairs at the Yorba Linda Water District, where he led legislative initiatives and worked closely with state policymakers to help moderate conservation mandates while advancing balanced, locally responsive water policy solutions.
A native of Upstate New York, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Journalism from the State University of New York at New Paltz.