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04

Resume

Document

CV / 2026·03

Bobby D. Cagle, MSW.

A complete record of public-service positions, agency leadership, education, and recognition — beginning as a county-level social worker in 1989, and continuing as principal of an expert-witness practice serving courts nationwide.

At a glance

35+ years of public service.
Director, LA County DCFS.
Twice Gubernatorial Appointee, Georgia. M.S.W., UNC-Chapel Hill.

Experience

01

Jan 2022 — Present

President & CEO

Cagle Consulting, Inc. — Los Angeles, CA

Lead a consulting practice providing customized strategic planning, technical assistance, operational solution development, crisis management, leadership development, and coaching to public, private, and non-profit organizations and communities.

  • Specialized expertise: child welfare; human services; early childhood development and education; juvenile and adult corrections; social-equity issues; community engagement; federal, state, and local government advocacy.
  • Principal of Cagle Expert Witness Services — expert reports, deposition and trial testimony, and strategic advisory for courts, attorneys, and agencies nationwide.

Dec 2017 — Jan 2022

Director

Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services — Los Angeles, CA

Board of Supervisors appointee and Chief Executive Officer of the largest child welfare agency in the United States — 9,300 staff, $3 billion annual budget, county population of 10.3 million.

  • Directed all operations including personnel, programs, facilities, fiscal operations, and services for protective services, foster care, adoption, and treatment, in compliance with federal, state, and county law.
  • Established Department vision, mission, and program priorities; formulated policy consistent with vision and mission.
  • Led integrated child welfare activities across federal, state, and local governments, community-based nonprofits, and advocacy groups.
  • Directed decentralized child welfare services through a network of geo-located regional offices and assured uniformity of standards, operations, and decision-making.
  • Reported to the Board of Supervisors on operational needs, program plans, and outcomes in safety, well-being, permanence, and self-sufficiency.
  • Created the Department's first Public & Media Relations division to ensure prompt, accurate response to inquiries.
  • Directed establishment and monitoring of more than 400 performance-based services contracts.
  • Established the first Office of Equity in Los Angeles County government (2018) to lead change around race, gender, and sexual orientation/gender identity.

May 2014 — Nov 2017

Director

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services — Atlanta, GA

Gubernatorial appointee and Chief Executive Officer of the state agency responsible for child welfare and economic services (SNAP, TANF, CDBG) — $1.6B budget, 7,700 employees, state population of 10.2 million.

  • Directed all programs in compliance with state and federal law, as prioritized by the Governor and General Assembly.
  • Directed development and implementation of administrative rules, policy, and practice guidelines.
  • Developed and implemented major new child welfare safety and permanency initiatives.
  • Represented the organization in matters of high public and media interest.

Jan 2011 — Jun 2014

Commissioner

Bright from the Start — Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, Atlanta, GA

Gubernatorial appointee and Chief Executive Officer of the state agency responsible for the child care and early-education needs of Georgia's children — $687M budget, ~400 employees.

  • Administered the nationally recognized Georgia's Pre-K Program.
  • Designed, implemented, and operated Quality Rated, Georgia's Tiered Quality Rating and Improvement System.
  • Co-wrote the winning $51.7 million Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Grant.
  • Directed licensing and monitoring of approximately 6,600 center- and home-based child care facilities.
  • Directed federal CACFP, Summer Food, CCDF, and MIECHV grants.
  • Raised in excess of $18 million from private business and philanthropy to extend agency impact.

Jan 2006 — Jan 2011

Successive leadership roles

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services — Atlanta, GA

Director, Legislative & External Affairs · Family Services Director · Program Director II, Office of the Deputy Director for Programs and Policy.

Aug 2004 — Jan 2006

Deputy Director, Youth and Family Services

Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services — Charlotte, NC

Oct 2001 — Aug 2004

Director

Graham County Department of Social Services — Robbinsville, NC

Jan 1991 — Feb 2002

Judicial District Manager · Chief Probation/Parole Officer · Probation/Parole Officer

North Carolina Department of Correction — Murphy, NC

Oct 1989 — Jan 1991

Children's Social Worker

Graham County Department of Social Services — Robbinsville, NC

Education

02

May 1998

Master of Social Work

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — Concentration: Management, Planning & Community Practice

May 1989

Bachelor of Arts

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — Political Science and Sociology

Honors

03

2021

Distinguished Alumnus UNC Graduate School of Social Work

2019

Kate Bornstein Trailblazer Award Penny Lane Centers

2017

State Alliance Champion Boys & Girls Clubs of America

2017

Shining Star Award Multi-Agency Alliance for Children

2016 — 17

Children & Families Fellowship Annie E. Casey Foundation

2015 — 17

Notable Georgian Georgia Trend Magazine

2015

Distinguished Public Sector Social Work Practice Award NASW Georgia

2015

Child Advocacy Award SafePath

2013

Leadership Award Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students

2012

Leadership Award United Way of Greater Atlanta — Women's Leadership Council

2012

Leadership Award Georgia Interfaith Children's Movement

2010

Higher Directions Award Georgia Empowerment

1997

North Carolina Probation/Parole Officer of the Year N.C. Department of Correction