Ava Fanucchi

Ava was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and began her career with the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety in 2002. The department is unique in that it is one of the few fully integrated police and fire departments in the United States, with sworn personnel cross trained as police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Ava currently serves as Deputy Chief of Police Services, bringing more than two decades of progressive leadership experience across police, fire and special operations.
Throughout her career, Ava has commanded a wide range of operational and specialized units, including SWAT, Investigations, Crime Prevention, Traffic, and Fire Prevention. Her leadership experience spans both field operations and strategic oversight, centered on complex incidents, interagency coordination, and organizational effectiveness. She serves on several local and regional advisory boards and committees focused on public safety, interoperability, training, and criminal justice education.
Ava holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from California University, East Bay, and a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from California Coast University. She is a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police and is currently enrolled in the Center for Homeland Defense and Security master’s degree program.