A deputy city attorney who also has 15 years of lifeguarding experience has been chosen to lead San Diego’s lifeguard division, just four days after longtime Chief James Gartland was removed from the job.
Daniel Orloff, a deputy city attorney focused on public safety issues, has also led two city labor unions, worked at City Hall as a policy adviser and won a collegiate water polo national championship at UC Berkeley.
“Orloff brings a unique combination of operational, legal, policy, labor and leadership experience that will serve the division well,” Fire-Rescue Chief Robert Logan said. “His career has provided him with a broad understanding of our organization and of the importance of collaboration, accountability and strong relationships both within the division and across the city.”
During his time as a city lifeguard, Orloff led the lifeguards labor union. He transitioned to deputy city attorney in 2023 and led the labor union representing those workers until resigning this week.
As the new lifeguard chief, Orloff said Friday that he wants to modernize the division while respecting its traditions.
“I want to use technology to our advantage while still maintaining the history, legacy and culture,” said Orloff, mentioning dispatch to emergencies and communication with firefighters as areas that need upgrades. “I believe we can be more cohesive in how we communicate, both in operations and at a policy level.”
He also said the division has some older policies and procedures that should be evaluated.
“Does the way we do business make sense in 2026?” he asked. “How do we provide the best service to the public?”
But he said no one should expect huge changes.
“I still look up to a lot of people I’ll be leading, so I’ll be relying on them to help in the decision-making process,” he said. “I know I won’t be the expert on everything.”
He said a key focus in coming months will be preparing for a “super El Niño” winter that could bring rising surf along with heavy rain — unusual challenges for lifeguards.
Orloff, 38, is one of those rare people whose childhood dreams have come true. He wrote in a journal as a young boy in La Jolla that he wanted to become both a lawyer and a lifeguard.
That was partly inspired by growing up close to the beach.
“When I was a kid, the lifeguards knew me by name playing in the shore break at Windansea,” he said. “It was my safe place growing up.”
Orloff participated in the city’s junior lifeguard program in 1997 and later served as a lifeguard intern. After graduating from La Jolla High, he attended UC Berkeley and won a national championship in water polo in 2007.
Then came law school — one year at California Western, and then a transfer to the University of San Diego — which overlapped with the beginning of his career as a full-time city lifeguard.
When La Jolla resident Barbara Bry was elected to City Council in 2016, Orloff did a one-year stint on her policy team and had a front-row seat to city budget deliberations — experience he says will serve him well as lifeguard chief.
“I got an understanding of how the overall city budget works,” he said. “It gave me a really good glimpse at how the sausage is made.”
Orloff then went back to lifeguarding and then transitioned to deputy city attorney in 2023, focusing on public safety and emergency medicine issues.
Daniel Orloff, just named San Diego’s new lifeguard chief, participates in a cliff rescue. (City of San Diego)
When the lifeguard chief job suddenly opened up this week with Gartland’s departure, Orloff said he decided to take a shot.
“This week has been a whirlwind for sure,” he said. “I put my name in the hat knowing I could do the job. I’m ready to lead in this position.”
City officials have declined to explain the departure of Gartland, who was chief for 18 years. They have said it is a personnel matter.
Orloff said his phone was blowing up with congratulatory text messages after his appointment was announced Friday morning.
“I’m honored, humble and grateful — I know that might sound cheesy, but I mean it.”
Connor Robbins, leader of the city’s lifeguard union, said Friday morning that Orloff has the union’s support.
“Daniel brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position, along with a desire to work collaboratively with labor,” Robbins said. “I’m confident he will be successful in this role, and I look forward to the progress he will bring.”
Orloff lives on the border of Valley Center and Escondido with his wife and three young children, ages 1, 4 and 5. But that doesn’t account for everyone on the property.
“I have a bunch of horses and pigs and chickens,” he said. “I love horses. My wife and kids ride horses. So do my parents.”
Orloff also has an unusual daily tradition.
“During my commute to work every day, I stop at a different beach and I jump in the water,” he said. “I’m addicted to being in the water — I’ve been that way since I was little.”
Orloff is scheduled to take over the job Oct. 24, pending background checks. Until then, Deputy Chief Dan Eddy, the city’s deputy fire chief of emergency operations, will serve as interim lifeguards chief.
The city has about 110 full-time lifeguards and about 200 seasonal lifeguards.
Orloff’s salary hasn’t been determined, city spokesperson Matt Hoffman said. Gartland’s salary was $242,819.